Hello friends. The vision remains to “make this ‘bad’ house beautiful” I am working hard but encountering many problems and issues that I never anticipated. I had counted the cost and determined to finish in the time scheduled……that was the plan anyway. However, some of the issues are difficult to resolve, others have a huge impact physically and emotionally, yet others just stand on the way and block the functioning of the whole or part of the project. All these issues affect my program and schedule. They interfere with the work of other professionals, they affect my other roles or impact on them negatively and in general delay my project while making the whole experience unpleasant and difficult.
But of all the issues I am dealing with, I think the biggest and one that I take responsibility for is ‘BUSYNESS’. I am a single mum of one very active girl. When I say active, I mean active!……which keeps me on my toes. When I am not at birthday parties, I am at school or social clubs, dancing, running, rollerblading, cycling, drama, …oh don’t forget the all important piano and singing………. then swimming and karate. There is so much pressure to do them all, the little brains are amazing, they absorb information miraculously! so there is constant pressure to grab the opportunity before they change….oh and I forgot to mention the languages French, Spanish, Swahili, Kikuyu……..and I really want her to do Chinese, it’s the future ! isn’t it ? and arabic would be great too lol. The fact is..kids can do it all! its whether the parents can keep up! …sort of! . All these in a seven days then we start all over again tomorrow- Monday. Please note i’m not doing everything listed only because I ran out of hours in my day! a long time ago! lol
I also work to make ends meet, well that’s for the six hours that I am not looking after my little girl. Of those six hours I take two to three hours a day to work on the bad house! I need about eight hours a day to complete this house in time……so we’ve got a problem!. Another thing you didn’t know is that I am ‘green’ hence no car ! so I walk everywhere, much as this is a great way to save the planet, honestly……….. don’t try it at home, It only becomes part of the problem! so why am I doing it?…..that is another long story!
I upgraded/downgraded to a vegetarian from a raw vegan, the problem with being this kind of a veggie head is that I am always hungry especially because I am now a manual labourer…so I spend more time in the kitchen…with my limited time and the amount of work I have to do, I can’t afford to do this. yet I need multiple warm meals….Another problem.
Then I need to do my 30 mins a day brisk walk for my cardio, thats what the doctor ordered! oh and I need to buy new wellies as the wet season is upon us! aarrgghh!, uniforms and groceries, homework has started this year and the teacher is strict and strictly expects the parental support and participation…………and school holidays are looming three weeks away! lets not go there! we shall cross that bridge when we get there! all this in a day/week, yet the doctor says to sleep at least 8 hours and relax …probably with a bit of yoga or deep breathing before bed…….To be honest, I have been passing on some of these because I am “busy” very busy!
Oh forget about a social life, it is non-existent! sorry friends ! I am busy! thankfully, there is social media………..NO! it’s a ‘trap’ ! tweet, text, facebook, blog and before I know it, its been 3 hours and I haven’t done the dishes, replied to important emails …..and meant to call my family……Im busy! very busy. And don’t forget Brexit…………….. aarrgghhh! It keeps me awake at night! lol
The truth is, ‘Busy” has become an enemy to fulfilling my vision of making this ‘bad house’ beautiful. So what’s a single mum to do to ensure the ‘bad’ house is made beautiful while still attending to my other roles ? How do I escape from this culture of busyness ?, it seems and feels out of reach right now, everything seems crucial and too important and must be done! …………….but is it ? ; thats the question!
So here are a few things im doing to reduce my busyness:
- I have a to-do list. …and have created a ‘not-to-do list so that I don’t pay attention where I don’t need to
- I Set parameters around your workday, I have a calendar of work, and I tick it off in the evenings. …
- I Schedule downtime usually in the evenings and weekends with my daughter, even short sessions of play seem to work…
- I have Let some things go like some clubs have to be dropped and I cook only once a day….but that works for me, may not work for everyone.
- I am Saying “no” more! its hard but now I have convinced myself and I am not guilty when I decide to say no…well sometimes I am ..
- I Stopped watching TV, although circumstation initially due to lack of power….I don’t miss it though I get curious about Brexit! I loved watching it on 9 pm news! lol
- I am unavailable (genuinely);I am Making less commitments or trying to
- I Schedule leisure time, Seriously, we have a timetable on the weekend! every 2 hours we do something different. It gives me time to do my things and my daughter todo her things and then we do somethings together! thats working well in my opinion!
- I should Give things a home: Everything its place, keys, money, clothes so that I don’t waste time looking. This is not yet in place, work in progress!
- I try to Delegate work even if its small chores but I don’t have a lot of people to delegate to so basically! im doing the majority but daily uniforms are delegated to my daughter, she amazingly arranges her uniforms in a box where she picks from in the morning! Amazing….ok I sometimes have to remind her but she’s good at it! ya!
Thanks for reading ! Have you got any tips for me or how to deal with “busyness” ? how do you deal with yours ? please share
Thanks
Jambie x