Do you ever struggle to find the time you need to do all the things you want to do? [And no, I don’t mean the stuff you HAVE to do like cleaning, domestics etc.] It’s the ongoing story of my life! I’m a week into my new/old job and it’s ever more obvious that I’m trying to squeeze 30 hours of activity into a 24 hour day. God loves a trier… 😆 . Maybe I should ‘go Amish’ and live by the sun rising and setting rather than the clock? They don’t seem to spend their time clock watching and rushing about like headless chickens…! Sigh!!
So, I’m trying a new approach [stop laughing at the back there!!]. I’ve made a list of the things that are important for me to try and achieve at least a few times each week [or even better every day] and a list of all the things I can cut out/down. I have whittled the ‘would like to find time for’ list down to praying/bible study, blogging, reading, journalling, crochet [craft of choice at the moment] and attending Mass [I’ve been very remiss since before Christmas regarding the latter]. The only things I’ve identified that can be cut out or cut down on are cleaning the house, television viewing and PC/Internet time, there is very little else I do that could be classed as time-wasting. I really do need to be a bit less fastidious with my housework as I can and do always find time to clean etc. That never, EVER gets left but a clean house often means a neglected spirit. Simon and I did a Lent challenge one year where we only watched pre-selected programmes on the TV and boy did we free-up some time. No more mindless channel hopping. Also it’s all to easy to log-on the PC and just click away without a particular focus. Far better to log on with a set agenda and then log off again without being tempted to ‘browse’.
It’s a case of prioritising and better time management I suspect because I’m certainly not lazy ~ quite the opposite in face. I’ll have to really WANT to change things and not be half hearted about it. It’s going to have to be a conscious choice I think. As a practising Catholic/Christian it is really important that I MAKE time for prayer and scripture but I tend to put domestic duties first thinking, “I’ll just hoover up and then I’ll read my bible, I’ll just put a wash on and then I’ll pray…” yep, you can see where I’m going wrong can’t you?? This attitude just won’t feed my soul. I’m turning into a real life Martha when I really want to be more of a Mary!!
The other thing I’ve often considered trying is getting up a bit earlier in the morning to spend time with God. I know lots of people who do this very successfully but as I already get up at 6am every day I’d really struggle with an earlier start. I’ve tried it in the past and ended up nodding off mid prayer ~ amusing but not terribly satisfying for me or God 🙂 . I think this would have to be a last resort.
I also think I’m going to have to be realistic with this. I am the mother of a 7 year old son, I work part-time, I run a house, I have an eldery mother who needs her share of TLC, I have four cats and a dog and last but definately not least a husband who I love to spend time with. These are parts of my life that cannot be ignored, nor would I even want to, but they must be taken into consideration.
I’ll report back as to how this goes. We’ll see if in a months time I’m achieving my list of ‘would like to find time for’ things a bit more frequently or if I’m still chasing my own tail and feeling frustrated at myself.
Hi Sharon,
Happy New Year! I admire your ambitious plan for the next month. Good food to think about; especially on cutting down on activities that “fill up time.” I certainly admit that I internet surf when I could be doing more constructive things.
Congratulations on your new dog. She sounds like lovely.
Hope all’s well.
Much love and prayers,
Gail
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Hi Gail
Happy New Year to you also. Well, the plan may be a bit ambitious but the way things were I was achieving nothing except feeling guilty. Better to make a plan and take a proper look at each day to see where the hours are going.
Honey is a sweetie ~ she was spayed on Tuesday so is feeling a bit ‘delicate’ at the moment but all in a good cause.
Everything else is great thank you as I hope it is with you and yours?? Do you have a daily routine for prayer or bible study or does it just happen when you get a moment?? I always love to hear how other ppl fit their faith into their lives [or maybe we should we be saying fit our lives around faith?]
With love
Sharon xx
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Happy New Year! This is my bane as well. I am not a meticulous housekeeper and that gets me down, too. The PC really eats my day. I don’t get in the time I need for prayer, truth be told. It is harder when prayer is less consoling. Anxious to see how your plan goes. I am trying to wean myself off a Persian cat website that has upset me emotionally at times — too much involvement in the trials and tribulations of people and their cats. I can’t handle it.
Hello Barbara ~ how lovely to ‘see’ you. I have to say that I don’t do forums and the like at all anymore for that very same reason. Also PC time seems to function in a different time warp than Real Life ~ every ten minutes IRL is only one on the PC lol…tell me I’m wrong?? Hope the ‘boys’ are doing okay??
with love
Sharon xx
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I think you may be underestimating the ratio of real life minutes to PC minutes. The ‘boys’ seem to be doing well, thank you. Bogart’s gut is stabilized at the moment. Humphrey has a terrible itch, probably due to the dry air that happens in Canadian homes during the winter. He was like this last year this time. I have a humidifier going strong, but it has yet to have any effect I can see. He looks like such a scragglepuss. They are such big boys now — each at least 11 lbs.
LOL at ratio. 🙂 Wow the boys ARE doing well. I have a cat who is always scatching with dry skin ~ what is that all about huh?? Have treated for the dreaded fleas but never saw/found anything anyway but she is scurfy…not nice!! S xx
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