I have been struggling with time management for quite some time now, but even more so now that I have started school. After getting the kids off to school and watching the news with my first cup of coffee, I felt compelled to blog about it. Must have been meant to be, because when I opened up my Google Reader(which, btw, I must tell you about my love for this feature. I was never able to keep up with blogs before hand, check it out!), Meg over at Sew Liberated had posted a blog about finding balance which she had borrowed from Maya at maya*made. Let me share it with you as well...
Motherhood is... finding balance
~ when to hold your child's hand and when to let it go
~ when to listen to others' advice and how to hear your own wisdom
~ how to give to yourself, while you provide so much to everyone else
~ learning how to play and still get work done
~ learning how to get work done and still play
~ figuring out what is too much and what is just enough
~ flexibility vs. structure
~ spontaneity vs. routine
Motherhood is a bit like walking on a tightrope and balance is what keeps us putting one foot in front of the other.
I am definitely on that tight rope, but boy am I walking it wobbly! I need help. I need to find a way to make everything fit and make myself happy again. Maybe happy isn't the right word. I'm not miserable and not really unhappy so much, more like disappointed when I can't accomplish all that needs to be done or that I want to do. My days consist of... chasing kids, doing homework (ok... trying), keeping house (and even that isn't up to par), feeding family, helping kids accomplish homework, showers for kids, and bedtime. Just all that seems to be a full time job, let alone the other things I want and need to do.
The school work is a big thing for me right now. I struggled last week with trying to get work for my classes done. The babies (although they aren't so much babies anymore... almost 4 and 2 1/2 sniffle) absolutely refused to give me time to work. Nap time was a no go, they just refused. I would send them out back to play, they spent every 2 minutes coming to the door or window yelling for mommy. I tried to get work done at night, they woke up, refused to sleep, was extremely cranky and I didn't get the work done and ended up exhausted the next day. Something has to give there!
I walk into what could and should be my most favorite room of the house, the room that we dedicated to my crafting/sewing/scrapbooking/crocheting or whatever other creativity I can conjure up. It is jammed pack with fabrics to be sewn, scrapbook supplies galore to be turned into beautiful layouts and albums for my family, fibers to be crocheted, piles of items that need mending and then the desk that houses the desktop which tends to be the catchall for everything that doesn't have a place or that we don't have time to file away.
I used to spend hours working on my photography, layouts, making clothes... and now NOTHING! That makes me sad. I like being creative. It is quiet time, time for me, time to relax, time to make things for others. I need to find that time again.
Baking is another one. I love to bake.. I love to cook. I find myself doing less and less and making what is the quickest way out. I love being in my kitchen and creating food that makes the people I love happy.
Family time needs to be a bit more creative as well. We usually spend family time together in the living room watching television. Not the best bonding time for us.
Finding time to pick up my Bible and read scripture is another one that I feel very convicted on.
And also, finding time to blog. Obviously by my blog history, anyone can see how much I have slacked on that.
So.... what do I do to find a way to manage my time more efficiently and find time for a little bit of everything? I am on a mission to find ways to make this possible.
What are your time management tips?
C.
