A Work in Progress
Sunday afternoon, I'm sitting at work, things have slowed down. Seems like I am still struggling with balance in my life. I work at one thing....like getting my house clean and organized....and then I am not getting my exercise in.....I start having more fun....and then I'm not attending to my home office stuff.....I guess you could say I'm still a work in progress. One of my issues is not wanting to live a regimented life! I tend to rebel against having too much structure! My Mom is one of those women who always did wash on one day, ironing another, dusting and floors on Sat. morning....did certain things like clockwork....I just don't seem to be like that! So....that makes fitting in all the things I want/need to do so difficult! If I could only: wake at 6:30, breakfast at 6:45, work on bill paying/ home office stuff at 7:00, do home organization/cleaning stuff at 7:45, go to the gym at 8:15, return home at 9:15, leave for work at 10:00, work until 8:00, return home at 8:15, dinner at 9:00, chatting/internet/tv until 10:30......I just might get things done. Maybe.....except.... The whole idea of this kind of regimentation just makes me want to scream. LOLI wonder how other people get everything done??? Maybe I can change my mindset somehow...I work 6 - 7 days a week, so there are few "days off". If I have trouble fitting everything in now, it is no wonder my life was in a shambles when I was gambling all the time! I have a lot of work to do in a lot of areas, to be sure.... So...how do others structure their lives to get things done???? I'm looking for some good ideas! Love you all.....Dianne
Replies
Gosh Dianne....sorry but no ideas here. There are \"Construction in Progress\" signs plastered all over me! My mom was the same way as yours...maybe not quite as structured, but close. I really don\'t think that I am in the position to give advice...but I would say don\'t sweat the small stuff. The fact that you are working virtually non-stop should really give you permission to let some things slide just a bit. I don\'t mean the important work/paperwork, bills stuff....but maybe the house doesn\'t need to be pristine? I don\'t know.....refer back to my \"under construction\" signs :)
Love ya...Julie
Well, I spent my entire day off today cleaning things that have needed to be done for six months. So I guess I am really not the person to ask about this either. I am slowly but surely going to get my life back in order. I also have so much to get done in so little time that I don\'t want to spend every waking moment cleaning and organizing. So I have given up on a lot of it, but no more. I am determined to get the house into livable shape again. You have my best wishes for a spotless house, all the work done, and lots of time to exercise and relax. You deserve it.
Now the first thing you need to do is not be too hard on yourself. You are a woman - you juggle so many things into your day - your job, your friends, Your recovery, - it\'s a tricky balance.
Reading this post it is like looking in a mirror. I am like you Dianne. I hate being told what to do and tend to rebel, it\'s what sent me off gambling some days when I had so much to do, it was all too much so i did none of it - funny eh? A character defect I am working on.
Little baby steps are the key - I talked about goals earlier in the month - it is good to have goals but be careful not to bite off more than you can chew. One day at a time - One task at a time. Hugs my friend. Suzi
Well working 6-7 days days a week would really put the brakes on my getting anything else done on a regular basis. I\'ve come to the point in my life where I don\'t panic about getting that \"stuff\" done by a certain time. Now I do keep the house in order but if the dusting, vacuuming etc doesn\'t get done on schedule I don\'t have to worry about it cuz I know for sure it will still be there by the time I am ready to do it. My suggestion is to look after \"you\" first and the rest will fall into place,ODAAT.....cheers.
Sorry no ideas here. I\"m a lot like you. If I don\'t get up early and jump right in to things, then I\'m not gettng much done that day. It\'s a never ending stuggle. Take your time, you\'ll get it done sooner or later. Peace and Love. Patty
Dianne, I structure my life about the same as you do yours! LOL Are you sure we don\'t have the same mom? My mom did so many things the same way. on the same day, come what may. My little sister nick named her \"Rain Mom\", ya\' know, after that movie with Dustin Hoffman, Rain Man! She ironed! Wow, huh? LOL We\'re okay...we\'re in recovery :) Dianne, I\'m all over the place, housework wise! Multi-tasker! LOL I\'m not working right now, so I\'m really floundering! But I\'m okay...not gambling, not beating myself up with the gusto I use to, looking forward to the little things in life. I\'ll be your personal assistant!
Here\'s the agenda for today...wake up, don\'t gamble, good night! See how easy I am! LOL Love you, pretty lady....Robin
Hey, Dianne - Did you ever think that maybe the people who seem like they have it all together might NOT? The only time my place is spotless is when other people come over - I keep it neat and clean, but I hate to vacuum and do it as little as necessary (I know it sounds gross, but my place isn\'t a pigsty).
Anyway, stop trying to do everything - choose the most important things and concentrate on them. If you want to go to the gym, make that your priority. If you want a spotless house, by all means make that your priority (and the exercise you get from doing that would cover the gym, ha-ha).
Don\'t be hard on yourself; nobody else is. No one is judging you here; we\'re all in the same boat...
Luv,
Chickie
lol
when you figure it out...let me know!!!
good thing we dont have to be perfect.
Diane, Diane, you really don\'t have to be so hard on yourself. I just try to clean the most important things on a daily basis, like wiping the kitchen, quick mopping floors and swiping the bathrooms. Then as time permits during the week tackle larger jobs. Woulldn\'t it be nice to have a maid, but of course I would probably clean before she came so she wouldn\'t see my dirty house. HA HA!!! Take a breathe, you will manage. We all can\'t be Wonder Women.
Probably not the answer you\'re looking for but I say delegate! Yep, assign all the mundane tasks to others. Then when they don\'t get done you don\'t have to beat yourself up you can beat someone else up! LOL
In all seriousness though, maybe just delegating a couple of the tasks to others will help relieve some of the burden you take on. Maybe one of the others living with you could take responsibility for the mopping or vacuuming or grocery shopping. Sometimes just a few little tasks done by others can really make a big difference in how overwhelmed we feel. Letting go is hard though!