Life has been a little… crazy lately. It’s been the perfect storm of several things that must be done hitting all at once, certain tasks taking longer than they should, and unfortunate accidents like my son’s iPhone shattering. No single thing is overwhelming, but added together, it’s been a rough start to February. I mean when you have a phone call like this with your cell provider, you know you are going to lose some hours in your day…
Me: I got an email saying my phone order didn’t go through because there was a problem with my credit application.
Dude: Right.
Me: Umm, I have a prepaid plan. I shouldn’t need a credit application.
Dude: You are right. It’s just an internal check.
Me: OK, what’s the problem?
Dude: Your social security number is all zeros.
Me: I thought you just said I don’t need an actual credit check. Besides, I have no idea why it’s zeros. I didn’t fill out anything that asked for my SS#.
Dude: You’re right. I don’t need your SS#, but it’s all zeros, so I can’t approve it.
Me: Huh? If you don’t need my SS#, why does it matter that it’s zeros?
Dude: Because the system flagged it.
Me: But you don’t need it, so can you approve it?
Dude: No, because it’s all zeros.
Me:?
Five phone calls later I ended up back in the same department with a different person, who approved it without issue. WTF.
I don’t deal well with feeling like I’m running constantly (and not actually having time to go running), so I’m taking a step back and making some changes to get back to center. Here are my priorities for the next week…
- Get to bed at an appropriate time – I won’t tell you how many times I’ve been up past 1am in the last 9 days. There is no reason that this should be happening. Nothing I do is so important (for the most part) that it can’t wait until morning. I may have to start setting a time that our internet shuts down, not to control my kids’ usage, but to control mine. Sigh.
- Create some margins – One of my favorite bloggers, Carla Birnberg, once wrote a post about creating margins in your life between your must do and your breaking point. I’m usually REALLY good about this but added too many things to my life in January and suddenly my margins are gone. I can recreate them, I just need to be ruthless about how much time I allow certain time wasting activities *cough*Facebook*cough* and get more organized with some of my other responsibilities.
- Start using To Do lists again – I am the queen of lists and I LOVE my bullet journal. It’s not a pretty journal like so many out there (I do not have time for that), but it’s an amazing organizational tool for me. I used to get up in the morning and, while I was drinking my coffee, I’d make my daily list. Generally speaking, about 90% of each day’s list would get completed. When I don’t make a list, I find myself running from thing to thing with no rhyme or reason.
- Plan our meals – I’m not a true meal planner. I don’t spend Sunday cooking and prepping. I’m just not that organized. But I usually have my planned meals for the week jotted in my bullet journal so I at least have some idea what to put on my grocery list and what might need prep ahead. Lately, it’s 5:00pm and I’m scrambling to feed everyone something or we end up eating out.
- Start running more – This is going to be the hardest one. I love the Faster Way to Fat Loss and what it has done for my body. I can reach into my closet and pull out anything and it fits no problem. It’s been a couple of years since that was truly the case. But it doesn’t offer a lot of time for running. And I miss it. My brain NEEDS running and it’s not getting enough. If I were honest, I’m not sure if I need additional sleep or increased mileage more. Weights are good for my body, but running saves my mental health.
I’ll be taking baby steps towards these goals, but I WILL slowly but surely get back to the place where I’m busy but managing.
What changes do you make when you feel things have gotten a bit out of control? What’s your favorite organizational trick or time saving tip?
I’m joining Running on Happy and Fairytales and Fitness for the Friday Five 2.0 linkup!
I’m like you, the queen of taking on too much. I’ve gotten much better at settling limits until I don’t. I agree with your plan. I’m not a list maker and I need to be.
I have a hard time “unplugging” as well at night. I need to get better at getting to bed at a decent time.
As you know I’ve had a crazy month too. I have modified a few things in my schedule and I am trying to balance it all as well. Some days I do better than others.
I MUST have a list, if its not on the list it won’t get done. When I feel like i have gotten out of control I make a clear schedule and follow it, and run to clear my head.
I am so with you. I love Amanda’s program and it was amazing for my body. BUT, I needed running more for my soul. If you figure out the magic answer, please let me know. I so badly want to go back to her program but I need running for my sanity more.
I do my to-do list the night before — which helps take some of that stress off of getting to sleep.
Mini breaks, mini naps — anytime you shut off for a little while it’s a good thing.
I have to say that being sick this week has actually been rather relaxing, since it forced me to relax. A lot. Of course I’d rather not be sick. Hounding the director at my parents’ place to arrange transportation to the dr for them . . . not so much fun.
That conversation with the dude at your cell provider is ridiculous. Why must people be so difficult?!
I love my planner. I’m with you about the to-do list – I’ll even write down things like laundry and vacuuming to make sure that stuff gets done too. I need to block out my days with my responsibilities so I stay on track. Plus, seeing the checkmarks at the end of the day is satisfying and I don’t feel like I’ve wasted my day. And I’m not creative or fancy either – I got some journal stickers from Michael’s and that actually makes my planner feel pretty and I have fun (read: actually want to use it!) with it. 🙂
It’s hard to step away from social media. I’m making sure I do so I can get my yoga in, but there is still plenty of time wasted as I toggle between Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
You mention needing more sleep (or earlier bed times, at the last). I’m on that wagon as well. I don’t feel tired, but I know my body probably needs more rest than I’m giving it. I was just considering committing to 10:00 bedtime to get me through Lent….maybe that routine will become such a habit, that it will stick.
I’m sorry things are feeling out of control lately. When my life gets like that, I get out the calendar, the to-do lists, and I PLAN. Just knowing everything is scheduled or written down makes me feel like things are in order.
Yes, to-do lists! I have this longing to be organized in my head, but my ADHD tends to make that a struggle. That said, lists are a must for me if I want to make sure to get things done.
Hello! New to your blog, I came over from Mirna’s blog. I’m very inspired by your post and learned a couple of things. Right now I’m off the wagon and really needed the motivation to get back on track. I find when everything goes awry, that I start at (almost) the beginning. This proves to me how far I’ve come and I can do it and probably better! It also sets me up for success so that I don’t spend the whole time beating myself up because I’m not at the same level I was when I left it. I’m really bad at negative mind-speak and need to work hard to fix it. A good run will often times squash this, and a great race makes it ancient history. Your post has helped me to see, especially the last point, that I need to run to get my good head space back!