Time Management

Time has been on my mind a lot over the last few weeks. It doesn't seem to matter what I do I just don't have enough time to get everything done. I know that the Lord gave us all 24 hours to work with in a day so I must be doing something wrong. I have even considered giving up blogging just to find some more time. I am certain that part of my problem is mental. I had this vision of sugar plums and loads of time dancing in my head when my children started public school this year. I forgot the fact that I still home school the 5 year old and that still takes several hours out of my day. I also was unaware that I would be left alone to face a day's worth of chores by myself. I have always had older children's help with chores on a daily basis. While they still help when they get in from school, it is limited due to homework and wanting to spend family time together. Instead of being able to delegate the chores, I am responsible for the inside chores as well as the outside chores. I don't mind. In fact, I like being outside. However it does take time to accomplish those things.

I also had this notion that with the older kids off to school and the great new treadmill that my husband bought me I would be thin. I would somehow have hours to workout and run downstairs with the 5 year old by my side. (I think my apple cider fermented without my knowledge and tainted my brain cells)! I have not hardly seen the treadmill since the kids started school. I have always heard the definition of insanity is doing the same thing and expecting different results. I have had the same plan everyday for the last several months and I still haven't been able to execute it. (I am going to blame this on the apple cider)! Today I decided to revamp the plan. Perhaps that will help me find more time in my day. I also realized that the vision of everything being perfect if the kids ever went to school had to be laid to rest. Truth be told, I just plain old don't like to exercise so anything and everything always comes first. (Hey, at least I am honest)!

I guess I was always looking at things through rose colored glasses and reality has hit. I only have 24 hours, and I LIKE to sleep. I can make it on 6 hours, but I prefer 7 to 8 hours of sleep a night! I tried the whole getting up at 4:30 a.m. thing to exercise. I muddled through the rest of the day like a zombie. I decided quickly that if I didn't enjoy my days then the getting up early thing really wasn't worth it. The other thing that I am tempted to do is to quit doing the things that I enjoy. I spent a lot of time the last few days baking and playing in bread dough. I love to write and I spend time pouring out my thoughts in a journal and on this blog. I also love to read. I spend some time during the day reading at the computer. It isn't vast amounts of time, but I am here off and on throughout the day. These are my creative outlets, and I don't want to push them to the side.

I spend large quantities of time taking my kids to ballet, football games and practice, and basketball practice not to mention school things. I am the crazy lady at the driver's license office doing the happy dance when the teenager gets his driver's license! He too becomes helpful in carting kids to their appointed activities, and I am thankful for extra help. My husband helps whenever his schedule allows, and I don't want to take that for granted either.

I have evaluated my schedule and I have decided that the above things are important enough to our family that I am willing to make the sacrifice. What doesn't really matter? I have come to think that a spotless house isn't all that important.

grace and peace,

julie