Empty Nest: schedules

Saturday, February 18, 2012

Schedules and Free Time..and Pinterest

One thing that kept things running relatively smoothly while raising 4 daughters was scheduling. And by scheduling, I mean scheduling everything. EVERYTHING. It worked. We knew who had to be where and when they had to be there. Yes, we ran late sometimes even with a schedule. But it was a guide- a mother’s helper, if you will-and not written in stone. As we all know, having children means learning how to go with the flow.

There were times that I got sick of schedules and scheduling. But I doubt I would have been able to function very well without them. Besides, we took a decent break from schedules during the summers because there were very few activities that required scheduling. I mean, who needs to schedule a day at the beach? We only live five minutes from the beach and we went every day. No schedule needed.

Certainly, as our daughters got older and more involved, there were sports, science, music, etc. camps but these were almost always day camps and the scheduling was quite simple- go to the beach after camp.

Occasionally, I would dream of a day when schedules were no longer necessary to get through a day efficiently. But, truth be told, our family thrived on schedules.

Hubs and I have been living in our empty nest for three years now. As I look around, I have to wonder just what, exactly, it is that I have accomplished with all this ‘free’ empty nest time. I know that I’ve been busy but I don’t really see the results of that busy-ness. There is no organization to it. And then it hit me-and I’ve mentioned it before--

I need a schedule.

Free time is nice. If I want to watch a movie. Or have no desire to accomplish anything.

No. I definitely need a schedule. It will keep me focused and less stressed. It will help me get everything done in a day that needs to be done. And, it will help me have free time. To spend on Pinterest. Instead of spending too much time there. That’s right. The truth is out. Pinterest is my latest addiction. And I am out of control.

If I stopped pinning anything new right now, I would still be busy for life! I can’t wait to start some of the amazing projects and craft ideas! Why have I not started already? Because I can’t get off Pinterest long enough to make the really-cool-full-of-awesomeness-crafts/projects/ideas I’ve seen on Pinterest!

So, I thought that maybe- just maybe- if I got that schedule thing going again I would stay off of Pinterest long enough to ~~start some of those wonderful crafts/projects/ideas~~ get some real work done around this place.

Sheesh.

Are you on Pinterest? Then click on the link above and follow along with me! Not on Pinterest but want to be? I'll send you an invite! The more the merrier! Plus, it's FUN!

Oh, and addicting. Just so you know.

Friday, February 3, 2012

TGIF HOPS!

It's time for FRIENDSHIP FRIDAY from Create With Joy.

Friendship Friday was designed to help bloggers meet new friends and comes with a question every week.

This week's question is:

What is your biggest blogging goal right now? My biggest blogging goal right now is getting myself organized and on a schedule so that my blogging (including the writing my blog and reading of other blogs) is more consistent. It's annoying when life gets in the way of blogging. :) But, if I form a schedule, nothing should stand in the way! Simple, right? Wrong. I suck at making schedules. It's something that happened when the last of the four lovelies left for college. Suddenly, there was no real need for schedules.

Or was there?

I think that forming a daily schedule would still be helpful whether I have a full nest or an empty one. I believe that a schedule would enable me to make the most of my time every day and I'm convinced that I would get so much more accomplished each and every day.

I might not have to be in ten different places at one time anymore. But I do have a lot of projects, chores, ideas, etc. that need to be started, worked on, completed.

So my biggest blogging challenge, it appears, is also my biggest life challenge right now. Who knew?!

I'm also linking up with ---friend and follow with Jan over at Midlife Parenting

Have a terrific weekend y'all!

Welcome!

Being a transplant to the low-country of SC for 31 years is still not long enough to be called a ‘benyeh.’ If I stay until I’m dead I’ll probably go a ‘comeyeh’ since I am, originally, ‘from off’ (which is the upstate but, rules you know). By day I take care of my sweet little granddaughter, Baby M and do all those things I did when I was a SAHM raising four daughters which has translated to, ‘by day, I am exhausted.’ By night I blog, blog, blog, and blog some more or I sleep, depending on my level of exhaustion (do they still make Geritol?). I have a very unhealthy addiction to sweets (nearly any kind will do) and all comfort foods not covered under the ‘sweets’ category. I’m known for speaking my mind so, if you don’t want to know, don’t ask me. I love to find the humor in my empty nest life. I live life hard and smack into that brick wall almost daily because I’ve always had to learn the hard way. Why change now? I’m so glad you’ve come to laugh with me as I do this middle age, empty nest thing like a BOSS!