Friday, February 22, 2013

Being derailed

Every time I  make a new attempt to get organized, get control, or anything else of the sort, I get derailed very quickly. Something happens--life, my raging ADD, busyness--and knocks me off the tracks and instead of hopping back on, I just chuck it all.

This week I have had my schedule thrown off by a bad headache and sore throat, which wiped out my cleaning day, and a couple of unproductive days at work caused by too many interruptions one day and grief over the death of an on-line friend's husband the other. (If you are not already, please pray for Rhonda. Her husband's death leaves her a widow with six children from four months to 10 years.)

So today, which was to be my catch-up and project day at home, with a little scrapbooking for good measure, is, of necessity, going to be spent mostly at work. But instead of chucking it all, I am determined to regroup. I'm going to sit down with my calendar at lunch and plan next week, shifting a few things around to make up for this week's lapses.

How do those of you who plan your time make up for lost days? I have no problem being flexible; flexible is my middle name.  That is what has always gotten me into trouble with any kind of plan. I'm so flexible that any sign of the plan is soon gone.

And as the week ends I am still behind on my house; I still haven't done a thing with my pictures this year; the laundry is piling up; the refrigerator is a disorganized mess. . . .


7 comments:

Bethany said...

You need your daughter to come for, like, a week, on the understanding that she will spend a couple of those days helping, AND organizing your fridge. You know that's why it's a disaster: because I'm not there. And what's the state of your leftover-cracker-basket? ;o)

Jane said...

That is *exactly* what I need. For MANY reasons.

mom said...

Your mother was having "wanting to help" thoughts when I read your daughter's post. What help (and medicine)could possibly be better? Hoping her plan becomes reality! <3

mom said...

And good for you - deciding to regroup! On the heels of several difficult days, deciding to do this today takes determination. Then looking at how you can rearrange next week's calendar should feel like a significant accomplishment. Fresh starts are awesome.

I know how it feels to be derailed; in fact, I'm feeling that way right now and seem to spend a lot of time getting lost in space. Reading your post is encouraging me to get busy, re-focus, and at least identify all those things that are "out there" and make a list today.

Susan said...

Dare I point out that margin is the only way people don't get behind where there's no time to catch up?

Susan said...

What I'm struggling with right now is the whole spinning-your-wheels thing. On the one hand, nothing is going to get better (with the to-do list, or with my emotional state when looking at how far behind I am) unless I regroup, buckle down, and plug away diligently, making a dent in the mess, and gaining good vibes so that I can continue to make a bigger dent. On the other hand, sometimes you're so tired and worn that working harder and longer becomes an exercise in futility, wherein stopping is the only thing that will refuel and revitalize and ultimately make an improvement.

And it's so hard to know where you are.

Jane said...

Susan, I was thinking exactly that. I haven't created any margin yet, so I am immediately behind and overflowing into next week, which is beginning to look very stressful.

And I think that there are definitely times when we just need to stop, leave things undone, and rest.