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The Butterfly Effect
 By Gail Barrett The Butterfly Effect, part of chaos theory, states that making even one small change can cause a huge ripple effect, drastically changing long-term results. “The flapping of a single butterfly’s wing today produces a tiny change in the state of the atmosphere. Over a period of time, what the atmosphere actually does diverges from what it would have done. So, in a month’s time, a tornado that would have devastated the Indonesian coast doesn’t happen. Or maybe one that wasn’t going to happen, does.” (Ian Stewart, Does God Play Dice? The Mathematics of Chaos, pg. 141) My life right now is a great example of the Butterfly Effect. My small change came in the form of a killer deadline. Naturally, I had to let chores slide while I worked on my book. Unfortunately, the shoemaker elves didn’t show up in my hour of need and do my jobs while I (briefly) slept, so the projects I normally would have done this summer haven’t been done. And now disaster looms. Thanks to an unusually wet summer, the yard has turned into a jungle. Even walking to the front door entails dodging overgrown shrubs. If I look out my (still unwashed) windows, I feel overwhelmed at the vegetation I need to hack through. Also outside, the deck hasn’t been stained or the patio furniture repainted. The driveway remains unsealed. Inside the house the situation is even more dire. “We” (and yes, that means me) decided to paint our bedroom and bathroom this summer. My husband did his part and painted the walls. The trim (my job) still beckons. In the meantime, we have ladders in the hall, paint cans and brushes everywhere. The list goes on (and on!), room by depressing room, but I’m sure you get the point. That one small deadline change has thrown my life out of control. My “to do” list has become a tsunami of urgent projects. And to make matters worse, my brain, apparently anticipating my trip to San Francisco next week for the RWA national conference, has already gone on vacation. It’s fried. So all I feel like doing at the moment is curling up with a good romance novel and ignoring the mounting chores. So my questions for you are: - Have you ever felt this overwhelmed? If so, how did you deal with it? - Have you ever used a machete? Do they even sell them anymore? - Where are those shoemaker elves, anyhow? Is someone else hogging them? If you have them, send them to me! I need them NOW. I’ll send a copy of HEART OF A THIEF to someone who commiserates. (And if you have everything together and are ahead of schedule, I really don’t want to know :evil: ) 24 Responses to “The Butterfly Effect” |
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July 22nd, 2008 at 8:42 am
- Oh you betcha I’ve been that overwhelmed. My advice? Hire it done! Can’t afford to hire someone to do all of it? Hire at least one of the jobs out. My advice is the yard, since it sounds like the biggest/most in your face, then do the trim so all the paint can be put away, and give yourself permission to say “Screw It” to all the rest. The house won’t fall down around your ears.
-Yes they sell machetes but no, I haven’t used one.
- The shoemaker elves are busy stealing spare keys and lipsticks, using your missing socks to carry them around in. Sorry. It’s a full time job.
July 22nd, 2008 at 9:47 am
I agree. Do only the chores that are attainable and hire someone else to do the rest! Even if you hire someone just this once to get the lawn in order or to finish the painting.
My husband and I tried to install crown molding in the house last summer and boy were we making a mess and bickering. Finally I had enough and I called a great company that had a crew in here and the house done in a day. It looked great and although my husband protested, later he admitted he was so glad I hired someone!
July 22nd, 2008 at 10:09 am
Hi Gail,
I am always behind because there always seems to be so much to get done. The way I make progress is to focus on one thing when I have a block of time. I’ll vaccum and dust or clean bathrooms. I have found this summer that yard work is best done in early morning hours so if I have a free morning I’ll do it. Once you start getting things done focus on what you have accomplished and then you’ll find the energy to start on what’s left to be done. Good luck!
July 22nd, 2008 at 10:46 am
Gail, I’m still on the lookout for my elves. I spent this past weekend moving despite a looming work deadline, and the move was just one disaster after another. Our moving vechicle actually got a flat tire! Hiring people works, or if you have no money like me, recruit friends and promise them food/wine in return. It also helps having something to look forward to at the end (or in the middle of) the madness, ie San Francisco for you. Lots of luck!
July 22nd, 2008 at 10:55 am
I would offer some advice, but I can’t keep up, either. I try to maintain a basic level of semi-clean and pretend I’m satisfied.
I also like to wait until my husband is home to do housework. That way he doesn’t get the impression that I’m playing with my keyboard all day, sailing through life. And he watches the kids for me. With them underfoot, I can’t get much done.
July 22nd, 2008 at 10:58 am
((((Gail))))
I start with one smallish thing–like say, laundry–and on to the next smallish thing. Instead of concentrating on the enormity of the loooooooooooong list of tasks ahead (you don’t wanna know, trust me) I just take one that can be started and finished in a relatively short amount of time, then the next… you get the drift.
You can buy machetes at those Navy/Army surplus stores (yes, I own one–same reason you need one)
I hate to be the one to break it to you… but… the elves?
They got a union now
July 22nd, 2008 at 10:59 am
Oh and please don’t enter me in the drawing, I already have Heart of a Thief in my TBR mountain.
July 22nd, 2008 at 11:54 am
Oooh I hate feeling overwhelmed…
My plan is to always take things one step at a time. As long as I accomplish something then I am happy! 
I wish I had elves or a magic wand too! :grin:
July 22nd, 2008 at 11:59 am
Jill you have my sympathy. I am an aspiring writer and have to find time to fit it in around my normal daily life, i.e. full-time job, hubbie, kids, football practice, etc. I have enlisted the help of my family to do chores that I can’t fit in and taught my daughter to cut the grass. Of course, even with all of this help, I still can’t find to write until late at night when everyone else has headed to bed. LOL
July 22nd, 2008 at 12:23 pm
Oh, no. The elves are unionized? Say it isn’t so! :cry:
I’m seeing a pattern here. Focusing on one project at a time seems to be the key. I think you are all right about that. Looking at the big picture is too overwhelming. Unfortunately, my boys have both grown up and left, so I can’t coerce them into doing the yardwork anymore, and the lawn people around here charge a fortune. So I think it’s going to be up to me….
But, I am going to prioritize. The trim needs to be done first. Then the bushes, and after that the weeds.
The rest of the outside stuff (deck, painting, mulch) will depend on the weather and my deadlines. Those jobs can wait until fall, or next spring……
July 22nd, 2008 at 12:33 pm
Being a single mom to me is always overwhelming. At least my life is. I just deal with it the best way I can. By staying busy.
July 22nd, 2008 at 2:29 pm
I always make a list of things to do; it is such a good feeling when one chore after another gets crossed off. I love lists!! I do what I can when I can and feel happy at whatever I accomplish. It means one less chore to do. I try not to be down on myself if I don’t accomplish much and think there is always tomorrow.
July 22nd, 2008 at 4:10 pm
I have not been ablre to scour up a shoemaker elf in ages. Obviously, someone else is keeping them occupied.
Yes, they sell machetes and I have used one to hack away a mss of blackberry briars.
Pick the job you want done first and go from there.
July 22nd, 2008 at 6:25 pm
I just realized something else. The first part of the summer I wasn’t able to get in gear and it was like my brain went on vacation. I think I just needed a break. As women, we don’t give ourselves enough permission to relax!
Gail, never mind the housework. Take the break you need.
July 22nd, 2008 at 7:22 pm
Jill, sometimes just getting away from everything for a while helps. I can honestly tell you that I haven’t seen the elves, and I could use them too!
July 22nd, 2008 at 7:56 pm
I can truly sympathize. Hubby and I have taken on a bunch of home improvements inside and out and there are days I feel so overwhelmed. I just want to get caught up on everything so bad but all feels neverending. Added to that my 5 year old and my 21 month old and I keep alternating on catcing some kind of virus. So frustrating.
July 22nd, 2008 at 8:00 pm
I wish I had elves, any kind to help out.
July 22nd, 2008 at 9:45 pm
Oh I so understand - my daughter is getting married this Saturday! There’s a million last minute details and all his family is coming from out of state 3 days early and lots of people are from out of town (including the best man who had his tux sent to the wrong state ) and we have to baby sit their 5 month old puppy and cat (who will be mixed in with my 6 cats) while they go on their honeymoon and, and, and… So housework and yardwork has gone out the window! And this is how I relax plus reading to get away from it all :shock:
July 22nd, 2008 at 10:10 pm
Oh Gail! I can definitely commiserate. I have so many projects that I wanted to finish this summer. It started really well but as the weather got warmer, I ran out of steam.
- When I feel overwhelmed, I take a break and relax with a cup of tea or coffee. Then I tackle the easiest or quickest project so I can feel that I have accomplished something.
- I have never used a machete but I would like to use one inn my yard.
- As for the elves, I have not seen them. If you find them, please send them on to my house.
July 23rd, 2008 at 4:01 am
I wish I had eleves or hired help too! I love to make to do list but they seem to get lost…I’ve been at home this summer and had big plans, but…I decided to do so much but why are there so many great books everywhere? I’ll do it tomorrow!
July 23rd, 2008 at 7:16 am
So… yesterday I mowed the lawn (I knew it would rain today), which made me feel a bit better. There is something satisfying about watching it rain when the grass has just been cut. Then, since my WIP was going nowhere (thanks to my absent brain), I spent the afternoon reading and relaxing. I went for a walk, watched a movie, and went to bed early. Today I feel better. I think the key really is that I just need to relax and let my body follow my brain and take a vacation. If I can get through the rest of this week (and get that blasted trim painted!), I will be ready for my real vacation next week.
As far as the elves go, I’m still watching for them. They MUST be out there. I refuse to give up. :!: And THANK YOU, everyone, for commiserating with me. It helps to know that I’m not the only one barely treading water. I’ve read your comments several times, and I do feel better.
And Lorelie - if you don’t have Heart of a Thief, please send me your address and I’ll send you a copy (or one of my other backlist books, if you prefer).
HAPPY SUMMER READING, EVERYONE!
July 24th, 2008 at 1:43 am
Hi Gail!
For me, when I see it snowballing, I put my focus just to one job and totally forget about everything else and do that one task. And too, if I can, I assign others, like my hubby, and teen with the other tasks that they can do, and make it a day of doing it all with a reward of going out after, it be for an ice cream to cool off after the day. Yes that still works with my husband :) Its the idea of getting rewarded and a time together to treat and be together after accomplishing it all. So thats how I do it with hubby and my teens.
Sorry I missed the contest. Thought it would be up for 24 hours or so.
July 24th, 2008 at 2:38 pm
I have definitely had that same feeling. It really got me during the 2 1/2 months leading up to my Master’s exam. I spent those 10 weeks reading all of the material listed on the page long list of books and poems and plays that were going to be on the 4 hour written exam. Considering it was pass/fail, I put everything else on hold to concentrate on getting through all the primary material and then researching at least two secondary sources for each primary text. I didn’t handle the stress very well. I was chomping down tums the weekend of the exam waiting to hear how I did and whether or not I had passed and would get to do the one hour oral defense of the written exam. I am grateful that I passed, but the rest of my life is still reeling from everything that didn’t get done those 10 weeks. I’m slowly getting caught up, 3 1/2 months after the exam, but I still have to figure out where to put all those books, plays, and poems with my room already crammed full.
July 26th, 2008 at 7:07 pm
Karin - I can totally sympathize. That’s the same feeling I had after finishing my last book - happy, but mentally drained. Now I’m scrambling to catch up on everything — especially my rest!!! Congratulations on passing, by the way! :grin: Oh - and I’m also spending the weekend painting that blasted trim….