Day 75: Sleeping In

I warned you, as the summer settles into routine, I am going to struggle with topics, but I promised I would keep blogging.

This morning the baby let me truly sleep in for the first time. I had intended to go jogging, but as 7:30 became 8 and she still wasn't up, I decided to just let her sleep. If she needed that much sleep, she should be allowed to get it.

Around 9:20, I was afraid she wasn't OK and checked on her. She was breathing heavily and sleeping soundly. I laid back down for a few more minutes. She woke up at 10!

Wow, I actually got a nice night's sleep. It was kind of amazing not to need any coffee or a nap today. Funny how actually getting enough sleep can change my attitude.

She ended up taking a three hour nap too. I don't know why she was so dang sleepy today, but she was. So we didn't do much. After running 4 miles three times already this week and 2 miles another day and doing workout routines 3 days, I took today off. My knees and hips needed rest.

I am fighting sleep right now myself. It was a nice day of playing, resting. The only downside to the day was that I haven't gotten a chance to talk to my husband in days. He's managed to shoot off a very brief email but no time to call or chat. As the days wind down, it is hard not to worry.

Not much else to say tonight. I am trying not to wax political this evening. I am not promising anything about tomorrow though. 

Day 81: Lazy

Other than the Alice Cooper song "School's Out," I had this one running through my head all day yesterday as I closed up my classroom for the summer. It is the new Bruno Mars' song.  

"Today I Don't Feel Like Doing Anything
I Just Wanna Lay In My Bed
Don't Feel Like Pickin' Up My Phone
So Leave A Message At The Tone
'Cause Today I swear I'm Not Doin' Anythin'

I'm Gonna Kick My Feet Up
Then Stare At The Fan
Turn The TV On
[Just wear my pajama] Pants
Nobody's Gon' Tell Me I Can't"

I woke up to a fussing baby at 7 but despite going to bed early, was still exhausted. I was absolutely ready to spend the day in my pajama's. I had justified my laziness by talking to myself the whole way to get the baby. I had the whole summer to exercise and be productive. I could allow myself one day. But when I went outside to drop some mail in the box, the weather was so nice that I decided to take the baby for a walk and then gave the dog a bath. We were pretty lazy the rest of the day, just playing together and napping. It was a nice way to start the summer. 

We even got a chance to talk to daddy on the computer. Lil Bit was so excited! She actually talked back to him and played peek-a-boo on the video chat. I loved watching her face light up when the video came up and she saw his face. She pointed at the screen and said, "Da da." 

I wish I had been a bit more productive, but I did even take a little time to work on my novel. I have a few more things I need to get done tomorrow. But the day turned out pretty great. Lil Bit learned some new signs and we played. Just a nice lazy, mommy day. 

Day 248: Time Management

For my loyal readers, this was a submission I made to another blog. Alas, it was not chosen to publish, but I thought I would share, just a few ways I have learned to survive after a few months of drowning. I would like to say, I have more tips but this article was limited to 500 words. One is procrastinating leads to panic and exhaustion - one of these days, I will quit doing it. Mmmm, maybe tomorrow?

Feel Like a Sinking Ship?

Some tips to keep your head above water during busy times

            One week I was home all day with my husband and baby, the next, I was back at work full time, the baby was in daycare; the next my husband deployed for a year to Iraq. Thrown into the deep end without floaties, being organized has been a struggle, but ultimately my salvation as I learn how to do it all, all by myself.

            Here are a few of the tricks that I have worked hard to master so that now I am relaxing with my daughter or hopping onto facebook instead of running ragged until I drop.

            Triage – Figure out what the priority is right now and set a mental list of upcoming tasks in order of priority.

·      Sevens and up get immediate attention. What has to be done to get out the door or to bed?

·      Is cooking yourself a fresh hot dinner important? Or are you satisfied with a quickie frozen meal? Organize your life around those things you can’t live without.

·      Learn what things you can safely leave for another day. And let yourself mentally set aside tasks for later too. Feeling relaxed and unhurried can let you live in the moment. Especially as a mother, those moments are too precious to miss in frenzied panic.

            Don’t waste movement or time – If multi-tasking is done properly, it can save time and anxiety later. I live by the motto, “Better to be a bit busy for an hour and lazy for three.” Follow along if you’re with me.

·      Never stand still. While you’re waiting for dinner to heat, can you wash a dish? Make up the baby’s bottles for the next day?

·      Combine tasks. If I’m circling the kitchen to make coffee, I can let the dog in on the way and grab her food on the way back.

·      Never have empty hands. If you’re walking into the kitchen, what near you needs to head in that direction? Getting a head start on another task means less stress later.

            Plan for the worst and plan ahead. We all hope for those dream days where everything falls into place, and then the alarm rings.

·      Have a plan B and C in mind. When everything goes kablooey, what is your go to? Know what to do, and the explosion will wreak less havoc.

·      If you can plan and do for the week, do it. Sunday, while making eggs for the week’s breakfasts, I pack my lunches. While folding my daughter’s laundry, I lay out her outfits for the week.

           

            Finally, be flexible and logical. I was preparing dinner for my daughter, getting ahead of the curve, while she was still content in her car seat; and decided, what the heck, feed her there rather than move to the high chair. Nobody died, she ate her dinner and we had a great time doing something different.

- I hope you enjoyed the article. Being organized is an all the time thing if it is truly going to save you time, but once you get a system in place, you will find that staying organized only takes a few seconds which can add up to lazy hours later. Especially in these last few days before Christmas, try to do one more thing than you have to each day so that you have one less the next. I waited until the last minute to wrap presents and spent two whole nights swamped. Don't do that. Wrap them as you buy them or do four or five a night until the main event. I am proud of myself, I did already stuff stockings so that I won't have to do that when I am racing home to company on the 26th.