Visit the All A-Blog each Tuesday and Thursday for a chance to win a book by an Access Romance author!
 |
|
Opportunity Makes No Appointment
 By Joanne Rock I may have mentioned here how much I like to be organized. It could be a Virgo by-product, but whether the stars have anything to do with it or not, this trait has been showing up in my life since I first rearranged my Barbie’s closets. No doll case stuffed with gear falling out all sides for my dolls—I had the pull out drawers for shoes and matching luggage pieces ripped off another doll set to help Barbie stay organized. Her outfits went on hangers and were sorted on the mini silver garment rack by color and, to a lesser extent, style. I loved imposing order on my world at an early age. As an adult, I can appreciate how a well-organized physical environment helps keep the mental cobwebs away as well. I think more clearly when the world around me is running on my timetable. Alas, it so rarely does. It’s much easier to bend Barbie to my will than my kids, my husband or my work. The kids’ million and one practices don’t care about my schedule. And even my writing, the arena of my life where I’m the boss, doesn’t fit neatly into the times I’ve neatly allotted for it in my date book. Take this month, for example. I had a good plan for getting two books done by the end of July. I set daily page goals and marched diligently toward the required minimums every day. Until I had another project come my way—a fun chance to write an Online Read for eHarlequin. It was a crunch, but since I love that kind of format, I agreed and started shuffling the schedule. Then I needed to write the opening chapters for another story—an unexpected project I suddenly needed to work for a variety of reasons I won’t bore you with. I got out my pencil and erased all my recently revised daily page goals. Then my editor called to discuss a book I turned in over the winter and mentioned it needed some work—a circumstance that required me to set everything else aside. And holy cow—what was everything else that I was working on? By now I’m so brain muddled, I’ve forgotten my main objectives; let alone how to prioritize them. By the time I revamped my daily page goals, I realized I’d be lucky if I had time to sneeze over the next ten weeks. Was it a hideous mistake to over-schedule myself so badly during the most beautiful time of year in upstate New York? Yes and no. Thankfully, I really do enjoy my work. Perhaps ideally I wouldn’t be doing quite so much of it at once. But bottom line, writing rocks. And quite frankly, opportunity doesn’t always knock a second time. Saying no today might mean my phone doesn’t ring so often down the road, and I like being asked to participate in fun new projects. They don’t come up all that often, so I like to jump on them, even if they make the Virgo in me frantic. For now, my house is in far more disarray than I would like and I don’t get to the grocery store every week the way I normally do. I’m skipping chaperone duties on the end-of-the-year field trips at school and scratching my head trying to figure out what else to cut so I can write. If only my world were a Barbie closet, I’d have it whipped into shape in no time. But in the mean time, I’d love to hear from you for Real World ideas. When you’re in crunch mode, whether it be because of work or family commitments, what can you streamline or ease off in order to free up some breathing room for yourself? Have any shortcuts for maintaining the rest of your world while you delve into a big project? ***I’ll give a copy of my May Blaze, UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL to a random poster and my eternal thanks to any ideas for making sense of my chaos or how to find extra time to plow through a hectic season! 23 Responses to “Opportunity Makes No Appointment” |
New Books
Copyright  This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. |
May 15th, 2008 at 6:34 am
As one Virgo to another I can so relate! :grin: Take care, have a great spring!
And remember: Even at a Mensa convention, someone is the dumbest person in the room. :grin:
May 15th, 2008 at 7:05 am
You can’t do everything all the time. So just decide what is important and must be done and don’t sweat the small stuff.
May 15th, 2008 at 9:08 am
Take care of your family and yourself and the rest will fall into place. The house will get clean eventually and nobody is going to starve if you don’t go to the grocery store weekly.
Good luck with all of your commitments and happy writing.
May 15th, 2008 at 10:07 am
When time crunch time gets here, the house cleaning is the first thing to go, and meals pretty soon become a quick routine of opening cans/getting stuff out of the freezer, and nuking it.
Back when the kids were here, laundry became a haphazard affair, done only when absolutely necessary–and any folding/putting away became the duty of the owner (even as I cringed at the mess those kids’ closets became) There’s always time afterwards to sort stuff out, as long as they have clean socks and t-shirts, no
The one thing that really killed me was the driving to all the after school activities–between getting ready to go, the actual time there, getting out of wherever, and back home, the entire afternoon was gone.
Can you find someone to drive your kiddos to practice and stuff for a few weeks? ’cause that would surely save you time. Perhaps with the promise of some kid watching over the summer (or whenever your schedule clears some)
Best of luck!
May 15th, 2008 at 12:27 pm
I always take one thing at a time. A person can only do so much. If I have to let the house go so be, same as the grocery store. Things will be there when you get to it. Also sign a few chores to the kids they can help more then you think. We don’t do them any favors by doing everything for them.
May 15th, 2008 at 12:47 pm
…I take one step at a time, I hate feeling overwhelmed! As everyone says, you can only do what is humanly possible… so I take a moment and do what I can do, when I can do it!!!
May 15th, 2008 at 2:04 pm
Keeping a house tidy during crunch time is difficult. One way to fairly painlessly keep things under control is to implement the two hands policey. When ever anyone in the family is moving from one room to another, they are required to take at least an item in each hand to put in the proper place on their way to the next room.
As for cooking, keep it simple. For example: salt, pepper and roast a chicken add herbs and chopped garlic mixed with oil if you like. Serve with salad, or in a pinch just slice up some tomatoes and cucumbers, and warm some bread in the oven when the chicken has just come out of the oven and you are laying the table. Cold roast chicken served with ham slices, cheese and bread and salad or fresh fruit can be another days meal.
May 15th, 2008 at 3:02 pm
There is only so much you can worry about. Don’t sweat the other things you’ll get to them.
May 15th, 2008 at 3:30 pm
i try to slow down, but i work fast, u just have to try and stay calm at all times.
May 15th, 2008 at 4:11 pm
I usually try to map out a schedule of all the things I have to take care of. You might not be able to do everything on the list, but at least you did what you could.
May 15th, 2008 at 4:23 pm
You can only do so much. Priorotize—most important first and so on down the line.
May 15th, 2008 at 7:01 pm
I’m trying to learn that I can’t do it all, esp at work, but do what I can in the time I have and he happy about it. I’ve not made it yet, because I do get frustrated. I try to do home things first and let the less important things sit til I can spare some time.
May 15th, 2008 at 7:09 pm
Good luck fitting everything in. I am not that organized but as I grow older I’m becoming more so.
We just got home from overseas and have moving boxes in our living room and dining room. I rearranged my schedule yesterday because the boxes were getting on my nerves. I still have 30 boxes but I’m getting there. I have to get it done because our eldest will return home from uni on Tuesday with all of his stuff. UGH.. I need a bigger house and more time.
When I start to get overwhelmed… I remember the phrase from Dinotopia.. Breathe Deep, Seek Peace. Not that is works as I stress out and forget dates.
May 15th, 2008 at 7:39 pm
I usually try to do the things that must be done then I try to get to the things that should be done.
May 15th, 2008 at 10:59 pm
I am a list maker and a list lover; each time I cross off a ‘to do’ item I am pleased. This helps me see where I am going to and coming from.
Stay cool and calm as possible so things get done faster and easier.
May 15th, 2008 at 11:01 pm
Hugs, Joanne! When life gets crazy, the laundry and that sort of thing definitely get shifted to the back burner. Oddly though, sometimes I’d almost rather do those sorts of chores rather than try to tackle whatever big thing is in front of me. At least the chore gets done temporarily, but sometimes the big thing is daunting. Anyway, a step at a time, and just remember that :) Take care, and don’t try to do it all! And if I can make it go away by throwing money at it, sometimes that’s worth it (an occasional house cleaner for instance)… Hang in there!
May 16th, 2008 at 1:55 am
Hi Joanne. Another Virgo and understand, though I’ve gotten to the point where I’d rather have someone else actually do all that organizing for me, lol. I’ve finally learned there are times things just can’t be as perfect as you’d like and look the other way.
May 16th, 2008 at 5:47 am
First, cut off distractions No TV, radio , book readingetc..
Second, get your husband to pick up some groceries on his way home from work, or pick the kids up from practices, school or can a friend or neighbor pick them up you? can your kids pitch in to make simple meals, their school lunches, pick up their rooms, throw clothes in the washer (great training for college).
Forget the house cleaning, no one will die from a dirty bathroom. Have every one put away as they use it, wash their own dishes as they use them. Clothes -wash on cold and cross your fingers that nothing will get damaged.
As my 17 yo son says “chillax”. ” It will all get done, Believe it! Live it! Breathe it!”
May 16th, 2008 at 6:07 am
I’m a big believer in lists - but that may just be because I’d forget my head if it wasn’t attached. :oops:
Another vote here for letting the housework slide. Unless you are one of those strange people who can’t think in a messy house. In that case, bribe the hubby and kids with future favors if they help in a hurricane cleaning. It probably won’t look as good as what you could do but it’ll be good enough.
And no one will die if they have to eat nuked frozen dinners a few times.
Lastly, call a few moms and see if they will shuttle your kids to practice with theirs if you kick in for gas (with the way gas prices are - they might just be thrilled).
May 16th, 2008 at 11:19 am
My house is always messy and my kids have grown up just fine. Also, I have found that asking for help will not kill you. I tend to want to do everything myself but that is just not always realistic. Give yourself a break and ask your husband and kids to help out. They will probably enjoy helping you.
May 17th, 2008 at 3:58 pm
Okay, it’s final. I’m going to chillax starting right now.
And yes, yes, yes to asking for help from kids and hubby. I help them out when they’re scrambling right? I seem to recall typing up someone’s social studies homework just a little while ago. Payback time!!!
***Winner*** Congrats to Stacie Mc, winner of the thread prize. Stacie, I’ve sent you a private email, but all you need to do is email joanne@joannerock.com with a shipping address and I’ll drop a copy of Up Close and Personal in tomorrow’s mail. Thanks to everyone for the wise advice!
May 17th, 2008 at 4:51 pm
Congrats, Stacie Mc! Joanne, best of luck with the deadlines.
May 17th, 2008 at 7:09 pm
wtg stacie