You know the ones - where you have a specific plan as to how the day's going to go and five minutes in you should just rip up your agenda and sit back and enjoy the ride.
But NOOOOOOOO!! You have to fight it every step of the way - buck the current, force the square peg in the round hole even though you know intellectually that it's not going to fit, believe somewhere in your heart that you can regain the day and salvage the remaining hours! Right up to the bitter end when you sit at your desk, darkness blanketing both windows of your office, eyes barely open, brain begging just to go to bed and start fresh the next morning. Not today, friend, not today.
I had every intention of getting a good 8 hours of the Day Job crossed off the weekly hourly total. I had every intention of getting all the laundry done and the house vaccuumed. The supper was a simple casserole with all ingredients with the exception of a carrot ready to be chucked in together and thown in the oven. Everything in bullet points on the Day Planner right down to the exercise time and a shower!
Um, talk about over scheduling, but I've already shared with you my obsessive compulsive and analytical organizational irrationalities abilities. That's who I am - and I always strive to celebrate my talents.
First up - the exercise was a bust. Oh, I exercised, but I felt as if I'd been out all night. Of course, I slept poorly - so that may have something to do with it. And my back hurt - but really, when you've been doing something for almost 2 weeks and then are sucking air so badly you have to stop! Frustrating.
Next - a bevy of phone calls from family. Victoria Day and it's time to catch up. And I will always stop what I'm doing to chat with family - but all of them? On the same day? Yikes, didn't see that coming! (*waves to family and reminds them that I love them all*)
Supper invitation and a request for a veggie dish. That means the casserole is out and I have to figure out what to do, and what I have to do it with!
Lack of sleep caught up around 3 and I sat on the couch for a quick break only to nod off! Hello? Not on my list. *sigh*
Dog decides not to eat anything all day and then throws up - while I'm napping - waking me up with awful gagging, "I'm going to throw-up" sounds. Nothing brings you out of a sound sleep like the dog getting ready to heave on your living room area rug.
Are you getting the picture. Yep, one of those days. Good thing is that today is a brand new one - and, no, I haven't scheduled my time down to the last millisecond. Some lessons don't need to be repeated more than once (or twice or...)
How was your day, People of Blogland? Am I the only one out there that schedules her day using hourly increments (please, please, please tell me I'm not)? Did you know how to do a strike out in blogger? I didn't until this post - so excited about that!!
I haven't started scheduling my life at home yet, but I'm beginning to think I should, so I can accomplish my writing, quilting, & exercising goals.
ReplyDeleteMy work life is scheduled by half hour increments, but as you've shown, scheduled goals can easily be derailed. Quite often something I've scheduled to do on Monday might not get done until Thursday or Friday despite my moving it from one day's schedule to the next. Perhaps that one thing wasn't important enough to make the time for it when it was actually scheduled anyway.
However, since I record all phone calls & emails work related in my work calendar (sometimes I need to reference back to when these communications occurred), it's hard to get out of the habit at home - but where do I record these things? When this happens at home, I start to think I'm too regimented at work.
I'll have to find a happy medium at work and at home.
I don't know how to strike out in blogger. Can you share the secret?
Janet, I feel your pain. Dog gagging *gack* I hate that sound - especially in the middle of a deep sleep. There's nothing like a *gack* in the middle of the night to get the adrenaline coursing through your veins!
ReplyDeleteI don't have my day planned, I sort of just survive through it!
I start the day with general plans and go from there. Most days the plan goes something like this: blogging, writing, errands, housework, TV, writing, dinner, writing, TV, writing, sleep. I don't always stick to the plan, and writing is usually what gets cut out. If have time and gumption, I throw exercise in the mix. I figure any day where I can say I wrote something is a good day - no matter what else happens - but it would be awesome if I could do it all.
ReplyDeleteJanet, I usually schedule two or three priority things that need to be done each day. That way, I'm not overwhelmed and the important things get done.
ReplyDelete(Hmm, my posts are disappearing from your blog - hope this one sticks)
I, too, was awoken by my dog barfing over the weekend. Maybe they're all just too excited that summer has arrived.
ReplyDelete'The exercise was a bust. Oh, I exercised, but I felt as if I'd been out all night.' - Totally unfair to get the After without the benefit of the Before.
And I don't know how to do the strike-out thing - how? How?
You know what I'm going to say about the lists and the planning, don't you? Meanwhile, I spent Sunday and Monday lavishing loving attention on the yard and garden, and as per your request, I'll have a peek ready for Wordless Wednesday so you can see bits of what we've all been up to.
Oooh, I'd love to learn how to do a strike-out, even for email. I wonder if your knowledge is transferrable?
ReplyDeleteI love to schedule my day. Perhaps not down to the hour, cause that's plain weird *snort*. I find it more helpful for me to write a list of things that need to get done, in no particular order, and at no particular time.
I of course have to fit this into the hours available to me, accounting for appointments, lessons, games, pick-ups, etc. (Oh the joys of motherhood - they didn't mention this in the "What to expect when you're expecting" pantheon) But I digress...
So I make a list and pick away. And as long as I get everything crossed off, I feel great. It doesn't matter to me the order, or the length of time it takes one particular thing. And if it means a slightly later bed time, so be it.
This is not strictly a writerly list either. It's everything, so Mondays are a bust writing wise. There's just too much house stuff to do. Tuesdays the only "have to" is the ironing of hubby's work clothes (he's a suit and tie man).
I certainly hope today is better for you, and you can stay on schedule. You do have a schedule for today, right? LOL
I'm a confirmed listophobe, Janet. I envy your organizational oomph, even if the plan doesn't always work out. Rub some of it off on me, and maybe I'll be able to write faster, OK? LOL!
ReplyDelete...despite my moving it from one day's schedule to the next
ReplyDeleteI think I need one of those wipe off boards for my scheduling, Suse - then I could just wipe off what I got done and add to those things that will be moved to the next day, instead of rewriting it over and over again.
There are too many things to do in a single day - writing, exercising, quilting (or in my case cross stitching) - either there needs to be more time in the day or something has to go (my preference would be the Day Job - but I might have to resort to getting rid of cooking, cleaning and shopping).
Strike out information is in the very next post "Brilliance - Maybe Not". I'd post the link, but I think I've angered the HTML gods enough for one day ;)
Joanne - glad to know I'm not the only one out there pulled from a deep sleep with the horrible sound. Amazing how fast you can run when you're sprinting to the door to let the dog out before she pukes!
ReplyDeleteI envy you your 'unplanned' day - I've tried, but then I just panic! There's got to be a happy medium.
...but it would be awesome if I could do it all.
ReplyDeleteSo very true, B.E. Sounds like you have a good general plan for the day - perhaps I need to pare my planning down to something streamlined like that! Hey, I might give it a try - I'll report back in a week or so if it works.
Sad that our writing is one of the things we take off our list of things to do when time is crunched :(
Why are your posts disappearing, Anne? I'm not liking the sound of that - I love your insight and humor in my comment section. Blogger - stop that!
ReplyDeleteI've been doing the priority lists, Anne, but my OCD list making has taken over. Perhaps not making lists should be that "Another Lent" I've been looking for - it worked so well for Spider Solitaire!
Ooh, already I can feel a panic attack coming on with just the thought of NOT making a list!
Julia - another person with a barfing dog! Maybe the amount of grass they eat at this time of the year? Don't know, but very annoying.
ReplyDeleteI know - lists - thinking of going cold turkey (see above comment to Anne). Might rid me of my obsession - and then I won't be crazed at the end of the day when my list didn't get done
Can't wait to see the garden pictures. Thanks :)
(Strike out information in post following this one, "Brilliance - Maybe Not".)
Yes, Lu, I have a schedule for today - and I'm grimacing at it right now!!
ReplyDeleteI like your idea of a list to pick at - and I bow down to your ability to prioritize writing into your day (we've talked about it before - and I think of it when I'm looking at the day stretched before me). Now, if I could only implement...
Strike out info in next blog (Brilliance - Maybe Not). I'm such a dork - the knowledge is transferrable, unfortunately, it's maybe not ingrained, yet.
I'd gladly give it all to you, Jennie - if I was confident that it worked, which it doesn't.
ReplyDeleteYou'll be crazy with end of year stuff - are you managing to get any writing done? Oh, if only I had the answer to writing faster ;)
Who needs a plan? Let's wing it! *wheeeeeeeEEEEeeee*
ReplyDeleteSilver stole my line!
ReplyDeleteWe may be going that route, Silver!! What's the worst that can happen? And will it matter when I'm 80?
ReplyDeleteBut I'm glad you stopped by, Karyn :)
ReplyDeleteCheck out these links for time management (food for thought). These just happened to be in an email I received today.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=se8Xncrpn24
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4pNusYmRjmQ&feature=fvw