I currently have a rather big disconnect between the time I have available for things and the energy I have for things. I would like to do more running and sport, but not at 8pm. I would like to plan adventures with enthusiasm... but also not at 8pm. Basically, I am not an 8pm person, and yet most of my "me time" is at 8pm.
Often when I am super ready to accomplish things (ie house stuff or fitness stuff or life admin stuff) it's midmorning and I am in work or watching kids, or Andy is at his job. Or it's breakfast time and my mind is whirring with ideas and also a kid has put porridge on the floor.
I don't feel like I have a regular time that I can download all my thoughts and ideas and make sure I'm not missing things. I'm fairly sure this piece - the "get it out of my head" time - is key to an organizational system. Instead I bounce things around in my brain forever and ever until I get them out or do them. But... I am not good at the "getting out" right now.
Andy and I plan our weeks on Wednesdays again, because by Friday we were too tired. On Wednesday we are also tired. I think we are generally tired.
[this post was interrupted to place the grocery order that I forgot]
I know I'm a morning person and yet... people are evening people. Once a week I meet my a friend in the evening for sports. This week we did outdoor yoga and it was super nice and then we sat in the garden and talked until 10pm because it was still light and lovely outside and it was great but I definitely couldn't wake up early enough to do sport the next day.
On Tuesday night Andy and I went out to the local climbing/bouldering center and did some bouldering and then went out for a drink and it was great but I definitely couldn't wake up early enough to do sport the next day.
On Wednesday night we did our planning meeting and I stayed up until 10m and then Clara woke up sad (possibly cold?) at 11:30pm and I definitely couldn't wake up early enough to do sport the next day.
And now it's Thursday and I haven't done morning sport since Monday. Everything that I did instead of morning sport was good and fun, but I also want to be running since I've got a half marathon in October.
Maybe this is balance. Some weeks are evening weeks and some weeks are morning weeks? Some weeks I write blog posts until 8:45pm, even though I could also be finishing the May photo albums or finishing June budget or planning my week next week or replying to texts?
In other news, I am reading Florence Adler Swims Forever and enjoying it. It's not as sad as the synopsis made me think it would be (although I'm only 50% through the book).
Also, picking up a new hobby (swimming) while I'm supposed to be training for a half marathon is not really great for training for a half marathon.
Are you a Gemini!? You sound like my Dad and a few of my good friends who are also Geminis and always want to be doing it all, all the time! I love that attitude but it makes me tired just thinking about it! I am a one thing at a time person, except when necessary and then of course, I can do it all but it really tires me out. So I can see why you are tired!
ReplyDeleteAs a former actual runner, and current lackadaisical runner, here is my suggestion: swimming IS a good training for a HM! You can do one day a week of swimming and two days a week of running, one long run and one faster run (or hills) and as long as you work up to around 10 miles for your LR, I think you will be good to go. The swimming will help a lot with your lung capacity and endurance, so I say go for it! If you have one extra day to add a run or strength work or something, great, but I would not beat yourself up about it if you don't.
I am also a morning person, but my kid and husband are evening people, and it's so hard to balance! I like your thought that maybe some weeks are morning weeks and some are evening weeks.
ReplyDeleteDear Rachel, I can related to everything you said in your post so clear, i could have written the same thing myself (except I don't have 4 babies).
ReplyDeleteI have long switched from time management to energy management for the exact the same reason as you described. Work-wise, when something kid-related comes to mind at 10 am - I act on it. Would it take less than 30min of my work time - then just get it done (order groceries, sign up for swim lessons, check academic calendars, book camping, etc). Work then shifts to later hours, or whatever "pockets of time/deep work" i have available. Sometimes I do work after 6 pm when everyone is done with the dinner. Other times, I may finish something after 8 pm, when kids are gone to bed. Since I am not an hourly employee, and evaluated based on the goals met/accomplishments, I gave myself permission to take care of these tiny things that would otherwise drive my mind crazy (yes, joggling them in my mind makes me tired) and deprive from productivity. Be gentle to yourself, you are a super-mama! Hugs, Irena