Tuesday 19 February 2013

Climbing out

Last week, I came down with that horrendous cold that's been making the rounds. I lost two days of work to it, which means I'm climbing out of the "to-do" list that has piled up. This wouldn't be so bad, but I've been climbing out of that "to-do" list since the end of January when I finished the quarterly reports and 1099s. The quarterly reports often eat up 2 weeks easily. Add the 1099s and you've got another week or so.

When I am "climbing out" of the abyss of my to-do list, other things are neglected. Sometimes, I feel a bit overwhelmed with everything that needs to be done. I just feel like a hamster on a wheel, although I hope my efforts are more effective than the hamster's.

Between homeschooling Lily, running two publishing houses, being a wife, and just trying to stay sane, it seems like an endless spin day and night. Is there a way off? I don't know. And if there was, would I want off?

Sometimes I think I'm addicted to the "I've got to do something" itis. If I don't have anything to do, then I don't know what to do with myself.

However, I think I might be okay with that. To be honest, I don't really know what I'd do if I were off the wheel, but at least I wouldn't feel like I was constantly climbing out.

So, yeah, I'm climbing out. Any tips?


14 comments:

Unknown said...

As I am climbing out from the doctor appointments I had on Friday that set me back a few steps I am in need of advice on this as well. Make a list of what's most important, but it all seems important!

Marci Baun said...

I know, Shawn. I try to get through three things on my list a day. The problem is the list grows faster than what I manage to get through. (sigh)

Faith Bicknell said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Faith Bicknell said...

Had to type this again. I cringed at the amount of typos I found, lol.

Anyway... Thank God I was caught up on the majority of stuff I had to do before the flu and flu complications hit me. It's all I can do now to write the coupla li'l blog posts I have coming up and I even missed my week here at 4SW.

And don't even get me started on the state of my house since being ill. Why is it when you're sick, everyone goes from "I don't want to do anything" to "Forget it, I REFUSE to do anything" and Mom is left trying to recuperate and handle a disaster zone? It makes me wanna wail at the top of my lungs when I wander through the house and see the laundry, etc. that needs done.

Jaime Samms said...

My hubs makes a concerted effort to make sure the only things on my to do list are writerly things, but he's only human, and he can't cover every base. Still, he took son and went on a vacation for this past week and a half and left me with the girl and her nightly activities. The two of us managed just fine. We've concluded it's the guys. They are the ones who create that endless stream of dishes, laundry, dirt and mess that has to be dealt with.

Kathy Bosman said...

All I can say is I understand. And whew, running two publishing houses? Wow! I homeschool my three children (two of whom fight most forms of work vehemently, making me want to pull my hair out at times.) And I write books and two blogs.
Yes, it's so true. When a man is sick he gets pampered, but when a woman is sick, she still has to get up and just do it.
I think the best thing I've done to stop myself from "doing" is take one day off a week. I don't write on Sundays unless I've had a really quiet and restful week and I'm itching to do something. It just gives my brain that breather that it really needs and gives me the oomph to start a new week. Sometimes it's hard to stick to my decision, but now I've found that my body follows a rhythm and always seems to wind down on Sundays.
But of course, life gets in the way sometimes and the weekend ends up being busier than any week day.

Jessica E. Subject said...

I have the cold, too, but I've been trying to ignore mine. Did have two days where I didn't do much, but still had to do something. I've always been like that.

Sorry, no tips, as I always feel like that. I do use a lot of lists, though. If you come up with anything, let me know.

Janice Seagraves said...

My goodness you have a full plate. Have you thought of hiring some help? Maybe a house cleaner?

Perhaps if you numbered those things on your list with how important they are? That way you'd know at a glance which ones you need to get done right now, and what can wait a day or two.

I also put a boot to some of your family members who think when mom's sick, we didn't have to work. Or lest employ your SO to jump in and direct some of the work load.

I have a small family, just hubby, me and our grown daughter. I'm lucky that my husband likes to do laundry (Clothes Nazi) and will occasionally do a load of dishes. Daughter is good with the vacuum and will cook the occasional dinner.

Janice~

Marci Baun said...

Well, Faith, Charlie is as helpful as he can be. If I am hungry, he will go to the store for me. If Lily is hungry, he'll take her to McD's. Since I don't like her eating McD's, I will crawl out of bed and make something for her. Of course, he was at work on Friday, so I had to take care of her and me. Over the weekend, he did all of the laundry. Nice. But he won't give Lily her yogurt or make sure she gets all of her supplements. So, there are some things he helps with and others he doesn't.

Marci Baun said...

Well, Jaime, Lily's a mess. I am a mess, too, although that's changing. He is a mess. Our house is somewhat messy, although he would like to say that I am the one responsible for it. He has his piles of crap, though. LOL

Marci Baun said...

Well, Kathleen, I just discovered that Lily is a visual learner. For someone who is not, that has been challenging. However, armed with that knowledge, I can do much better with her.

I don't know how you do it with three. I can barely manage one. LOL

I've been trying to take a day off each week, but I'm so far behind right now, I'm scared, too. :D The other day, when I finally got around to checking my Yahoo email, I had over 5000 messages. Eep!

Marci Baun said...

Oh, feel better, Jessica.

No worries about the tips. I'll figure it out... or I won't. LOL

Marci Baun said...

Janice,

I do need to put a boot to some family members. I'm working on getting Lily more self-sufficient. She's 8 1/2 now. There are things she can do for herself that she doesn't do. (It's so easy to let Mom do it.)

The number system might work. Getting help would work too. Cloning myself would be even better. (g)

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