I've been very quiet the last week. I have had 2 rather stressful nights, not to mention a sick kid (but finally Kiki has a tentative diagnosis rather than "bring her back if she's lethargic, can't keep water down, etc etc) on top of everything else. In stressful times like this, I find it helpful to do a "brain dump" I worte down everything I have going on. It only came to 6 items, but some of them are pretty huge. You know, like pack half of stuff and get into storage and clean the house for going on the market. Not something you can do in an afternoon.
So in true stressed Kin style, I made a monster list (generally 6-7 pages) of EVERY LITTLE THING that I need to do. Start with the non-negotiables on days like work, swimming lessons, parties etc, then add an item to a day. The next week is going to be very full on, but hopefully after that it should calm down a lot.
It even looks like I'll have a week to spare to play catch up, although I know if I think that way I'll need it. So, now I can know that everything is planned for and if something else comes up, I can check the day to see if I can do it. If not, it doesn't happen. Well, at least until November.
But until then, I apologise for the lack of comments on everyone's blogs. I have been very slack, mostly because I am reading in a rush, and I want to keep up with what everyone's doing. I think maybe I need a better plan for reading blogs.
So what do you do when you realise there's too much to do?
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What do I do when I realise that there is too much to do? Usually I hide! So your list making is a step ahead of me! Then once I'm finished hiding I potter. Then in the last week I panic. Doesn't work that well. REally should find a new methodology!
October 4, 2007 at 10:14 AM
If I lived next door I'd gladly offer two helping hands.......
October 4, 2007 at 6:24 PM
Precious, I know what you mean, my first instinct is always to hide as well, and thankfully Hubby pulls me up and encourages a brain dump. He's really very helpful most of the time.
River, your helping hands would be much appreciated. I wonder if my mother-in-law would be willing to do a bit of cleanning???
October 4, 2007 at 7:40 PM
Kin - How are you reading blogs now?
I might have some ideas to help out..
The thing is, we can't always comment on all the posts we want to. I average about 120-140 posts that I read per day in Google Reader and I want to comment on 95% of them. I just don't have the time.
Cheers,
Snoskred
www.snoskred.org
October 4, 2007 at 8:15 PM
Snos I just read in the morning while eating breakfast mostly, and there's just not time then to comment. Since it seems I may have to be having a nap in the middle of the day now with the heat, I tend to still be going at night (ie I'm in the middle of packing Tupperware orders for tomorrow) so there's not time then either.
I might just have to control myself and do it in the morning... and maybe cull my reader a bit.
October 4, 2007 at 9:06 PM
Ok here's my tip and I don't know how useful it will be but this is what I'm doing.
Divide your reader into folders - put about 5-10 blogs into each folder. During the day about once an hour, sit down and read one folder - as you go through if there is anything you want to comment on open it in a new tab or window. Then do your comments, and get back to your day. ;)
I find this gives me -
-a chance to take a break from what I'm doing during the day
- a better focus on reading because if I sit down and try to do it all at once I find myself skipping over some great posts just to get things read faster
- a chance to do something else while I read, like drink water or eat a bowl of cereal
Sitting down to read it all in one chunk is a lot harder, I have found. ;)
Cheers,
Snoskred
October 5, 2007 at 8:48 AM
AHEM! I seem to remember someone chastising me for doing the same thing...... you know it is not a good idea!
As for what I do when overwhelmed. Well besides writing 13 page monster lists (I still have it! But it is not posted on my wall anymore) I tend to hide out on the 'net reading blogs and emails.
Not much help am I?
October 5, 2007 at 3:53 PM
Cull the list. Pick your very favourite bloggers and keep them. Are there any that you haven't read lately? Any that you routinely skip over thinking I'll get back to it later? those are the ones to go. I culled my list because I was reading after my nap well into dinnertime and after, also I was getting a lot of spam email coming in from Canada which really annoyed me, so I deleted all the overseas bloggers except two. Now my reading list takes me less than an hour to get through, plenty of time for my other favourite things and no Canadian spam. Also I don't have small children and a move on the horizon.......
October 5, 2007 at 5:00 PM
I forgot to ask, how is Kiki? Nothing serious going on there? Hope she's feeling better now.
October 5, 2007 at 5:02 PM
Kelley, :-P My monster list is a 4 week plan now, with no more than 5 things per day! I like the brain dump, but it's what you do with it!!!
River, I've culled my list, and Sons, I meant to reply earlier (thanks for the email by the way) and I'm down to 43 blogs. I've split them up into folders Sons, like you suggested (aren't you plesed to note someone is paying attention?) but I've put all the ones I like to comment on in 3 folders by subject (I know) and the rest in other folders that I don't comment on (mostly really big blogs). Just looking at my reader now I've got 38 unread items: 6 news items, 4 that I won't comment on, and the rest I will (although I should point out that one blog has 22 new items, I'm hoping they're only pictures and I can leave one comment). So effectively 7 that I will want to comment on. I would normally flick through them while eating, but I'm guessing I'll have to find a different technique.
Thanks for asking about Kiki River, she's been diagnosed with reflux (my first thought) and has had two days of medication, and so far no vomits, funny poos or sore tummies. Fingers crossed the Dr got it right and this is the problem. Oh and we've also been told to keep her on soy/lactose free for the time being, to see if long term that will help settle her down.
October 5, 2007 at 7:07 PM
Kin! I knew you had a lot to get through but that much! I have absolutely no words of wisdom for you except support and that I wish I lived closer to help you through this. I know you will get there - although you claim chaos, you make order of it through your lists and planning skills. Enlist your Hubby whereever possible and even the kids (and kiki when she gets better which is hopefully soon).
October 5, 2007 at 9:22 PM
Thanks Jo :-) I'm getting there...
October 5, 2007 at 9:41 PM
Glad to hear it, Kin. ;) But I knew that when you sorted your blog template. ;)
I'm sending you an email with a sneak preview of my new template and I'll wait till I post this to see if I get another bounce.
Snoskred
www.snoskred.org
October 5, 2007 at 10:11 PM