What’s Robbing Your Time?

Moms can be the queens of letting other people  waste our time.  We will wait for technicians, we will be put on hold with a telemarketer, we will listen to countless ‘not making a difference’ sob stories, we will wait forever at the doctors office. How can we change this?

Awhile back I started to make sure I didn’t create a rigid schedule so the ripple effect of one appointment lasting longer than expected doesn’t ruin the rest of the appointments. So if I know I am going to wait, I bring a book or something to work on like this article to do while I am waiting.  Having a few little snacks like trail mix or almonds or a protein bar will keep me from going psycho and prevent me from feeling that I let another person rob me of time from my life. Touching base with people we haven’t spoken with in a while is a great way to make the waiting time worthwhile.  Let’s create a little magic in all these waiting moments. Shouldn’t everyday be at least slightly miraculous? As much as this might be difficult to read; be glad, enjoy the waiting, in this hectic world.  Sometimes the waiting is the peace we need to think, ponder, dream and imagine……as long as we don’t have to hurry to pick up the kids afterschool!

So because we are rushing and waiting and growing anxious because we have housework or officework or errands constantly to do, is there a way that we can ease the load a little bit?

I am an advocate of being effectively lazy.   What does that mean?  What are the tasks that you could hire out? Question is it affordable?  How much time would it take for you to do it?  Break down how much you get paid and if going to work for 4 hours could pay for a cleaning person once in while, would that be of interest?  Especially if it takes you 10 hours to clean the house by yourself! What about gardening or simply getting the lawn mowed by a neighbourhood kid who wants to earn a couple of bucks.  How about hiring someone in to just do the windows, cut the cost and time in half and do it with them. Only of course, if it is worth it.

We are moms and we just like to get things ‘stuff’ done! But quite often we have a little devil on our shoulders called; PROCRASTINATION!  I think I have mastered this art.

Sometimes I let my talent for procrastination rob me of quality time. That simple decision in the morning could be the one that decides the rest of my day, but I’ll hum and haw over it for far too long.  All the other things I would have wanted to do or have fun with are put on the back burner.  The perfectionist mentality has its good points and clearly its negative ones.  Thinking too much could be a problem for someone like me; because then I’ll start to think of things like;

Seriously, who do we owe our time to?  Truly, who owes anyone time from their life?  The only answer I can come up with is a parent to their young child; the rest is voluntary, never owed.

On the other side of the coin; my existence should not create more work for someone else.  My life should never take time away from someone else’s life. My life should have a constant purpose…..I think having fun qualifies as a purpose…what do you think?

My working goal is by the end of the day, can I look back and say I appreciated it with limited stress, preferably none.  If there was stress, was I able to handle it and hopefully the answer is yes.  Did I add a dose of magic in my day by making someone smile or accomplish something I consider worth while for me? Did I have a purpose today? Did I learn anything today? Did I do something, an action that moved me forward closer to my goals? Did I have fun?  Was it a great day?

So now the ultimate question is: When the time comes that your life will flash before your eyes, will it be worth watching?

Gayle Fransham