After catching up with friends, and taking care of the many odds and ends upon my return (tomato canning, lemonade making, deep-house cleaning, sewing, house painting, wall repair, stove repair, flat tire, etc.), here I am, re-emerging with alone time (for the first time in 3 months), and an urge to write again. Sorry for the long absence!
The kids went back to class and as with every back-to-school, I am set with a set of new school-year resolutions (along with most parents of school aged kids). I am ready for a new beginning, full of hope. I again hope for a better, more organized year with more time for human relations and more me time (the latter in the hope to be more zen as I often worry about the memory that my boys will have of me later in life...stressed out, too busy, ?). I hope to hug and cuddle my kids and husband more. I hope to have friends and neighbors over more often, and more spontaneously (my perfectionism too often keeps me from doing so). I hope to get closer to my dad. I hope to call my mother-in-law more often. I hope to give myself a facial once a week. To sum it all, I need to make more time or rather, I need to stop wasting time.
My household is very organized, and by both cutting off TV and simplifying our lifestyles, we have greatly expanded our leisure time, but I still find myself sometimes wasting away by either procrastinating or aimlessly surfing the net (the latter usually being a product of the former).
And since it is well known that e-mail and the web are the bane of the procrastinator's existence, I plan on spending less time on them. Not so easy when you write a weekly blog, but doable. I already deleted my Facebook account. I am happy with my social life and felt that FB did not do anything for me at this point in my life, and it ate into our precious time. I also vouch to only check my emails twice a day and keep an empty in-box (better for the mind, better for the environment...not unnecessarily cluttering up a running server somewhere). I have even contemplated the idea of sticking to short email replies and adding: “Sent from my iPhone” or “Sent from the road” to my email signature ;). From what I learned in an article, I also need to make a list of computer tasks and block time for it, just as I need to make a list of tasks away from the computer so that I don't get tempted to jump back into it. By breaking down a large project into the set of smaller tasks required to complete it, I should also be able to take care of my propensity to procrastinate.
If all goes well and I follow my resolutions carefully, I should be one zen, entertaining and cuddly mom by next year ;), and hopefully with even one less wrinkle (from the weekly facial).
What's your time waster?
17 comments:
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My big time waster is not keeping up on household chores and then the task gets overwhelming and time consuming. We have an upcoming clutter busters workshop at church in a few weeks and I am really looking forward to that. This time of the year I really like to clear out the junk and get each space simplified before Christmas. Blessings, Tami
ReplyDeleteHooray! You're back! :D It sounds like you've had a lot on your plate.
ReplyDeleteI'm afraid I have the same time-wasters as you. I plan to try the Pomodoro technique to combat procrastination, plus the Robert Boice suggestion of "doing what you're avoiding first thing in the morning". For my internet addiction.... I may have to delete a swathe of feeds from my reader. *covers face* :/ But yours is definitely a keeper.
This month I used your recipe to make balm, which is lovely! And I'm still loving the tooth powder. And I've started to take containers with me to buy meat and things, which is very satisfying, despite the raised eyebrows. :)
Welcome back, Bea! My time waster is the same as yours: the Internet. My perspective's been broadened tremendously by blogs such as yours, but I would still like to spend less time perusing (and, really, indulging in) ideas, and more time putting at least a few of them into action.
ReplyDeletehurray! you're back! i shared your blog with my son's preschool teacher last week and have been waiting for a new blog for her to read! i was very encouraged when she told me about their compost system and how they are striving towards a zero waste school!!! i'm excited for her to learn and share some of your ideas with other teachers!
ReplyDeletehope you enjoyed your holidays and that you will be able to enjoy more zen time this next coming year. as for us, i doubt i'll have time to waste! within the next two months we are expecting: preschool, bible studies, hockey lessons, dance lessons and our fourth baby! how will i get away from my time wasting internet? by taking a million photos of my children while they dance and skate the winter away!! :)
Hello, I love your blog (reader since January or so) and this entry really made me think about different KINDS of waste of time. There is surfing the internet (which I too do, way too much) and other similar things that ease the transition of plunging into something important. But I would say my dissertation is also a time-waster.
ReplyDeleteIt's less obvious, because it is an important thing, but not only does it consume my time, it keeps me from doing other things that would help me to make better use of my time. For instance, by focusing on getting to work or getting to bed and skipping cleaning up, I hide the camera that might inspire me to take a walk and notice the change of season, which might raise my overall mood and lead me to work better.
So the "best" use of time is complicated... I came across a quotation from Lao Tse recently, about taking the same attitude to work and play, so that someone looking can't tell whether one is working or playing...
Shantel
Welcome back Bea! Hope you enjoyed your summer in France.
ReplyDeleteThe internet is my biggest time waster. After spending all day at work in front of screen I still feel the need to spend 1+ hour a day reading blogs in the evening. Something that I must address.
I'm looking forward to your post on canning :-)
Jo
Yes, the internet - quite an addiction. I have bought some glass jars though (at IKEA) but am also trying to get rid of plastic in my home and not replace it. I like the tooth powder but worry that it might scratch the enamel on my teeth.
ReplyDeleteI like your blog very much !
I always find myself creating resolutions at times of transition.. and not wasting time is a great one.
ReplyDeleteMy current biggest time waster has to be the internet (ahem, but not blog-reading or writing or course!). I still have a facebook account and check my email too many times each day. I think setting aside computer time would probably be a good idea!
Bea! Welcome back. I have missed you. Since you've been gone I am onto tooth powder, recycled all my plastic containers and now use glass, clean with baking soda...the list goes on, all because of you. I also thought of you when a good friend said he works for a company who opens new stores around the world every ten days...not so good. Thank you for making a difference in my life!
ReplyDeleteOh my god, adding "Sent from my iphone" to your signature line is genius....!
ReplyDeleteReading blogs...ugh.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteBea-
ReplyDeleteI've often wondered if the clutter of similar questions/concerns/comments on your blog annoys you, and if it's tempting to declutter? I've kept from commenting until now for exactly this reason.
PS. Thank you for jolting me out of my action-paralysis. :)
PPS. Reposted for spelling error! Sorry, it's a pet peeve.
Hey, Bea!
ReplyDeleteA friend showed me the video from the Green Awards and I started reading your blog from the very beginning. I absolutely love the idea you are spreading to the world. I just cleaned my closet to donate some stuff to charity, I carry and Envirosax bag around for any shopping I may have, I recycle as much as I can... Unfortunately there aren't so many places you can buy bulk in London. The Unpackaged is one of them, farmer's markets - another, but it takes time to get to those places.
I'm originally from Latvia and I remember from my childhood that it was normal to take a bag with you when going shopping, we had special bags for eggs, the sour cream was poured into glass jars and everyone had to bring one. But now unfortunately packaging seems so normal and some people even put a pineapple or a melon in a plastic bag.
Regarding the time wasters, for me most certainly the biggest are different sitcoms. Once you start, you just get hooked. I'll try to eliminate one at a time and leave two or three I really like, watch them till they're finished and then that will be it. Long-term plan, as you can see. :)
I wish you and your family all the best and continue doing what you're doing!
LOL - this week I have to say it's your blog, since i just discovered it and can't get enough of it! Perhaps "time consumer" is more accurate since "waster" implies it's time ill spent, and I don't think it is :-)
ReplyDeleteother than that, television for sure, and procrastinating/idle time surfing the internet!
Oooh the internet is a huge time waster. I have to really discipline myself about when I go online. I also deleted my personal Fakebook, oops I mean Facebook account. As for the TV....well our TV broke 4 years ago and life without a TV was such a revelation that we have never looked back and never bought one again. I get offers from people all the time who have a spare set to give us.........I just say no, thanks.
ReplyDeleteBea -
ReplyDeleteWhat do you use to give yourself facials with?
Thanks!