Making the Most of Your Time

 

Ah, time. There just never seems to be enough, and no matter how hard you try to stop or freeze it, it just keeps on passing.

Everyone always says they would like more money, but is it really money that they want, or is it the freedom of time they believe money can buy?

time to travel. time to garden. time to have a hobby. time to read. time to do yoga.

time to collect garden gnomes.

time to sleep.

Everyone is allotted the same 24 hours each day, so why is it that some people get more done in the day? Are they sacrificing something important? Do they not eat or sleep? Do they have a secret space-time continuum they enter when no one’s looking?

maybe.

Or maybe “these people” have made a conscious decision to treat time as an endangered resource and deliberately choose how each minute/hour is spent instead of allowing it to pass by without notice.

I have always said that I hate rules and I hate people telling me what to do. I still say that, but I know it’s not really true. It’s not true because I never feel more on top of my game as I do when I’ve got a plan in place and follow through. This could be as simple as a meal plan, a plan to pay off a certain bill, a list of chores to check off, or a game plan of how I’m going to teach math facts to my 6-year-old.

so why am I so hesitant to make a daily plan?

Human nature. I know what works for me, but the idea of making a set plan, or list of chores, or daily schedule sounds daunting and overwhelming so I don’t do anything and instead sit on the couch watching OTHER people live their lives on the television.

sound familiar?

We need to end this cycle.

This is it. Move forward from today. Onwards and Upwards!

The difference between successful and unsuccessful people is that the successful people do the things that the unsuccessful do not. –Brian Tracy

related posts:

time management and social media (an oxymoron?)

how to be blissfully happy

making a (non-cheesy) vision board

meal planning for dummies

the Daily 7 For a Highly Successful Household

Permission Granted

I’ve been doing an awful lot of thinking lately about the meaning of life. It’s a deep topic, I know.

I’m not sure that there IS a universal meaning of life or a one-size-fits-all version, but I am beginning to have a clearer view on what it means to me, and to my family.

and it’s pretty simple:

BE HAPPY.

That’s it. It’s terribly simple and ridiculously simplified, but at the end of the day, that’s what really matters to me.

Everyone chooses their own happiness—my happiness is not the same as yours. While I love reveling in a great drama showdown between the Real Housewives on Bravo, I do not want to live drama in my own neighborhood or circle of friends, and therefore change the subject when a girlfriend starts gossiping. While it’s a conversation starter to bring up the weather, I’d rather focus on the GOOD parts of the weather, not the bad. Rain brings flowers, sun gives us Vitamin D., etc.

Does that mean that I’m living in denial about certain things? That I’m acting like a PollyAnna?

maybe.

I recently met (super briefly) Steven Fogel, the author of “My Mind is Not Always My Friend“.

I listened intently as Steven explained that the voices in your head should be treated as a cabinet of advisers, similar to the President’s advisers. YOU are the commander-in-chief of these voices, and YOU get decide what to do with them. Do you take their advice to gossip, or get annoyed and lash out when someone takes your parking space, or do you take the time to step back and look at the entire situation?

Do you immediately get upset when the bag of flour gets dumped all over the kitchen floor, or do you take a step back and realize the flour got dumped because your 4-year-old was trying to make cookies all by himself? For you.

It’s a constant choice, and we’re all works in progress. No one is perfect, and I’m certainly not trying to make it seem as if I act appropriately at all times, because I most certainly don’t. There are days when I both rant and rave.

But I’m working on it. Because at the end of the day, the only thing that matters is that I’ve tried my hardest, the kids are warm, dry, fed, & loved, and Adam feels supported. All the other stuff is trivial.

fluff.

nonsense.

So what’s with the title?

I’ve titled this “permission granted” because I think it’s time that permission IS granted to just be happy. To be thankful. To count the blessings. We’ve had a really hard few years—all of us. Our country is at war, the economy has tanked, millions are out of work, education is plummeting, and people don’t feel safe in large crowds.

it sucks.

But this suckitude (sucky attitude?) is like a virus that spreads, and if you (I) dwell in it, it just spreads and gets worse.

and that’s not good for anyone.

January is practically over. Most people I know started the year feeling FANTASTIC. This was it. 2011 was the year that could do no wrong.

If you find that you’re having a hard time getting this FANTASTIC feeling back, make a change. Distance yourself from negative news/thoughts/feelings/people.

You are in charge. YOU are the commander-in-chief.

related:

how to be blissfully happy

I’m not going to be “that kind” of grown-up

how to make a (non-cheesy) vision board

Remember the WoMom!

I’ve started a Gluten Free TV segment and my very first guest is Shirley Braden, from Gluten Free Easily! click on over to stephanieodea.com to check it out.

362nd day of 2010

362

I have a new book out today. I tested all the recipes and wrote this book before the baby was mobile. It was a challenge, but I knew that if I waited until she was moving around, I’d never get it done. There were days when I had 8 crockpots going at a time, and when they were finished, I’d hand out the food and fill em’ up again.

it was kind of nutty.

and wonderful.

absolutely wonderful. The baby turns 1 January 6, and she is all over the place. If she’s awake, she doesn’t hold still—toddling from room to room. Santa surprised her with a pink wooden toy kitchen. Today she spent a good hour banging pots on the fake range, “cooking” Kix cereal and shoving the soggy round balls into my mouth, one at a time.

I am so lucky to have this time with my children, and with this new little one. My heart breaks when I think about what would have happened if I hadn’t stumbled upon the idea of starting a crockpot blog.

she might not be here.

and that’s not okay.

Thank you. Thank you so much for finding me, supporting me, supporting my family, and for being my friend.

and thank you for loving your crockpot (almost) as much as I do.

Today:

daily 7

rework your personal goals. if you haven’t completed them, it’s okay. Most people over-estimate what they can do in 1 year, but under-estimate what they can do in 5. Tweak. Rewrite. It’s all good.

call a good friend and listen more than speak

Tuesday, the 355th day of the year

355

Last night was Winter Equinox. And a full Lunar Eclipse.

woah.

The girls and I crammed a million things into our day yesterday—-but it was worth it. We did end up at Michael’s, and while I was prepared for the worst, it was actually a fun visit. We wandered the aisles, and picked up lots of craft supplies on clearance.

I’m learning how to Skype. I feel like such a dork that I’ve never done it before this past weekend, and so I spent a ton of time playing around with it yesterday. I set the kids up on the desktop and I was on the laptop. There was a lot of shouting and squealing—it was great.

Today:

ten days left in this year. make them count. it’s now or never to start your 2010 exercise regimen…

daily 7

take a nap

I’ve got $100 up for grabs at Totally Together Reviews

BlogHer needs more entries on this laptop giveaway

350. DUDE.

350

There are only 15 days left in this year. F I F T E E N.

freaky.

I spent way too much time yesterday fiddling with a new BlackBerry that the wonderful folks at BlogHer sent to test out, review, and give away (the post won’t be for a while, though. I’ll keep you posted.)

I think I have carpal tunnel in my fingers and I’m a wee bit cross-eyed. I get it that I work online. I get it that I use technology daily, but I am JUST NOT a gadget person. After spending a good two hours to input 3 numbers, I gave up and made a pot of coffee.

I sometimes think I was born in the wrong decade. I like spending time at home, I like spending time with my kids, I enjoy hanging out with my husband, and my idea of a night on the town is dinner at a nice restaurant that isn’t crowded and then a walk around the block.

oh. and although I live spitting distance to San Francisco, I’d rather this dinner take place in the suburbs where I can find ample parking. for free.

I don’t think classrooms should have smart boards, I don’t think kids should have cell phones unless it’s for contacting mom and dad to pick them up from sports practice, and I am pretty sure we’re the last house on the block without a Wii. And while the kids have DSs (don’t know the plural of that)—they only use them in the car when we are on a long drive. I haven’t made this a rule, that’s just what seems to happen. The kids would rather play or read than videogame.

I haven’t succumbed to a DVD player in the car, either, and so far we’ve made it. This summer we’re planning a roadtrip to Texas and I still don’t feel like this is a necessity.

But.

I get it that I’m not in the majority.

so I’ll suck it up, soak my hands in warm water (ooh, maybe with lavender!), and figure out how to use this darn thing.

Today:

daily 7

count your blessings…. they are probably people and memories,  not gadgets or devices, huh?

quickly write down the top 5 things that are the most important to you right now. Don’t think too hard, just do it. On a regular ol’ day, do your actions reflect these priorities?

clorox wipe off all the doorknobs. this is especially important if you gave candycanes to quiet 5 small children yesterday afternoon while you were on a conference call…

the weekend

345 & 346

How many of you unplug for the weekend? Do you stop checking email? Do you turn off the computer and cell phone?

I usually don’t. But I wish I did.

I feel obligated to check email, and so I do–sometimes obsessively. I need to change this. It’s not good for me, it’s not good for the family, and it’s not the person I want to be.

so I’m going to change it. It’s Friday, 4:04pm, and I’m turning off my drug.

this weekend:

keep up with the daily 7

wrap presents

spend time with the family

unplug.

it’s friday! take the day off

344

Happy Friday!

Chances are your to do list was mountainous this week. Take some time for yourself today. Play on the internet. Go for a walk. Paint your nails. Take a shower all by yourself.

enjoy your family.

enjoy your kids.

enjoy yourself.

xoxo

today:

daily 7 — delegate as much as you can

thursday–catch up

343

Things are moving at the speed of light around here. So far, so good, but I can tell that I’m going to crash in the next day or two. It’s inevitable.

Today:

play catch up

plan ahead for the weekend

daily 7

breathe.

Wednesday: 342

342

Good morning!

I’ve been thinking an awful lot about happiness lately. I believe happiness is a choice. I have two very dear friends going through a divorce right now. I wouldn’t wish divorce on anyone, but in this situation I am so proud of my friends for getting out of rather-icky-situations and for protecting their children.

Divorce brings ugliness. There really isn’t a way around this  something ugly, whether you’re Kelsey Grammar or not.

and you know what? these two friends (who don’t know each other, but I should really get them in touch) are doing really well. They have chosen happiness.

I wrote this a while ago on being blissfully happy.

your challenge for today: if you find yourself feeling unhappy, change it. Turn off the news if it’s depressing. Don’t talk to that certain someone who drags you down. Stay away from cranky people at the grocery store. Spread joy.

choose happiness.

Today:

daily 7

holiday schtuff

hug your kids

341 Tuesday

341

Yesterday was a series of unfortunate events. Nothing went according to plan. Instead of fighting the apparent laws of nature, I decided to put on pajamas at 7:15pm and climb into bed with the girls and read.

It was a good choice.

I started a discussion on the forums about new year’s resolutions. I’m inspired by Melissa and Sandy to work out more. And I love CBeth’s One Minute Writer— being creative always feels so good.

Today:

daily 7

run errands

wrap/mail/etc.

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