Monday, March 16, 2015

Do Life 2015: 3 Days of Laundry & Netflix Binging

Sometimes you get so busy doing life that you forget to pace yourself.

Oh, that doesn't happen to you?

Lucky.

It truly seems to be the constant story of my life.

I like things busy. I like to look at my calendar and see it jam packed with things to do. I like knowing I have places to go and people to see. I like the sense of accomplishment I feel when I can look back and see all the things I have crossed off my list...

I love to LIVE!

Living definitely has it's perks, but sometimes I am soo BUSY that NOTHING gets done.

Nothing as in my laundry.

As in I am on load #5 and I have been at this for 3 days.

And while I would like to blame this predicament on the fact that I have a tiny washing machine and WAY too many clothes, the reality of the situation is that I desperately need to pace myself.

I feel you girl.....

A couple weeks ago, someone at work saw my calendar. Their first comment?

"Wow, you don't have much free time do you?"

In that moment my heart sunk a little bit. You see, I have prided myself on being busy for years.

I have "patted" myself on the back for all of my 'to do lists' and for all of the items I was able to check off my list.

However, in that moment, I started to second guess my approach to scheduling and how hard I push myself. Because, let's be honest, no one... and I mean NO ONE, has the expectations of me that I have for myself....

With those words from my friend resonating in my head, I slowly admitted to myself that I don't take much time to breath.

And when I do get to the point where I can't do it anymore, I sit on the couch, curled up with my favorite blankets, a bag of chips and binge watch Criminal Minds.

tell me about it....

At that point, it doesn't matter how much is on my list, nothing is getting done anyway...

How then do I maintain this momentum of doing life?

How do I accomplish the things I want to accomplish without feeling totally burnt out and discouraged?

I mean, the obvious thing, in my opinion, would be to hire someone to clean my house. Because really, who doesn't need that perk in their life?

Or a magic wand that would do my grocery shopping for me. Or fold my clothes. Or drive me to work.

aren't we all...

When I feel the most overwhelmed, these are the things that I tell myself would make life easier and allow me to get more done.

Yet, when I am truly honest with myself, the answer is far less appealing than having a personal assistant or a genie in a bottle.

Truth is.... I need to slow the heck down!
For starters:

1) Go to bed at a stinking decent hour! 11:30pm is NOT a decent hour. (there. I said it.)

2) Stop hitting the snooze button. She is not your friend. She hates you and makes a mockery of you every morning. Just stop it.

3) Your calendar it NOT your to-do-list. (even if I want it to be...)

4) Wash my dishes right away.... Do not let them sit in the sink getting gnarly. You have a dishwasher. No excuses.

5) Lay out my clothes the night before - Remember Mom' threat.... going to school in your unders

Is my schedule magically going to become less crowded? Probably not. 

Are my responsibilities going to lessen, therefore providing more time to get stuff done? Not likely.

Will these five things make everything fall right into place? Not sure, but it worked really well this morning.... 

And really, that's what it's all about. Finding balance. Finding what works for you and sticking with it. I tend to rebel against routine in my own life, but maybe it's time I start making it work for me.

Because, as I sit back and look at all the cool stuff I have had the chance to do this year, I am reminded that the simple stuff still needs to be done. And since I don't have a personal assistant yet, I am the one who gets the task of doing them. So if a routine makes it happen, then a routine I will make.

24 hours - that's what I got to work with and that's what you have too.

Make the most of it as you #dolife2015