May 20, 2010

What's the Secret?

Dear wise and all-knowing readers,

I am drowning in to-do lists, deadlines, demands, diapers and messes.

I've fallen behind in just about everything.

Individually they're easy.

Combine them all and they drown me.

And all this time I thought I was a good swimmer.

Dang, I HATE being proven wrong!

And I have no chocolate to nurse my wounds. *sniff*

Perhaps I just need a better swimsuit?



So, what's the secret, oh wise ones?

I hear wearing shoes around the house makes you more productive.

Fact or Fantasy?

Tell me, how do you do it all?

Save me.

32 super cool people speak:

TEAM LINDSAY said...

You can't do it all. Not in the same day anyway, not all the time. At least I don't think so...

Give yourself a break and don't expect it to all get done at once. Sometimes just easing off some stress will do wonders for you AND your to-do list. Then prioritize. My husband often tells me to quit multitasking because it's slowing me down :)

And make time to run out and get chocolate. Motivation is key!

ldsjaneite said...

I find my music or a good audiobook make getting tasks done SO much easier--and more fun. In fact, I look forward to them so much that I find myself saying, "I can't wait to wash the dishes so I can get back to my book." Or "Woohoo! I'm going running today so I can listen to my Top Rated playlist!"

And drowning in diapers? What a terrible mental image that it.

Vanessa said...

Cute Bathing suit, and the best part is... you can totally ware it for girls camp... Let me know if you figure out how to get everything done, today I have let everything go and ate chocolate all day. Now I feel like a cow who's fallen behind on everything. GREAT, JUST GREAT!

Vanessa said...

wow killed the wear... sorry about that.

Pitterle Postings said...

Yep, there are times when we all feel like we are drowning. Just find something that helps you keep motivated. I love to listen to music when I am cleaning and I really love Pandora on the computer because I can select any kind I want to for free!!! Then I just listen and work. Also, books on tape or CD are good as are incentive rewards! Good luck!! Remember that we can't all be on top of the game all the time. It's ok to take a few days off!!

Lisa said...

Killed the wear? That's funny. Yeah, so go ahead and drown for a while. Just get a straw coming up through the pile to suck in a breath or two. Here's a really good one though...don't answer the phone. Take if OFF THE HOOK. Brilliant move. And then don't feel guilty about it.

Welcome to the Garden of Egan said...

You seriously think there are people "out there" that does it all????? You are such a silly little dreamer.
Wow.
You are so such a sweet little thing.

Kristine Mullen said...

Cute suit!

I'm drowning too. But even if we catch up, there will be more messy diapers tomorrow :)

Debbie said...

That "man" has better (and smoother) legs than I do! Plus, you do NOT look like a man, so take your head off of that picture. (Me shaking finger at you.)

Of course you can't do it all... You can try, but your husband will find you in a corner muttering to yourself one day. (I CAN do it all... I CAN do it all...) Give yourself a little break sometimes. My mother in law, who embodies all my housekeeping goals, has a schedule and I have a few friends who pick one "major" task every day of the week (Laundry, Bathrooms, Mopping, etc.)

I can't say I'm that organized although it would probably help. I'm more of a "I feel like cleaning ... today", which sometimes means the blank isn't filled in. Usually, my house is cleaner when I'm upset about something and can't sit still or company is coming, so I would have to say a happy (or non-stressed) mom = a messy house. I'm not sure what that says about me, but its the truth.

Neisha said...

I only have two so don't know what it's like with 4 but I still feel like I can't keep up.
I really think the shoe thing works. I notice that it does with me.
good luck!!

Wonder Woman said...

I am not the one to ask. But the things that help SOMETIMES are tennis shoes and good music. I have a fun playlist on my blog you're welcome to, or you can go to meetthepassionista.blogspot and click on her mix. That's been my "gettin' busy" music the last few weeks.

I also recommend a maid and personal assistant.

Sarah Larsen said...

I can relate! Minus 3 kids and the male bathing suit. (Although it sort of has a vintage charm) One time MomBabe did an interview I read and said that she picks a designated time a day on the internet and then turns it off. I've tried to do that and found that I do better. (I only turn it on like 1 more time. :)) Although it's true. You just can't do everything. I try to make a little list of at least 3 things I would like to accomplish. (I figure 3 things is do-able?) and then I try not to feel bad about neglecting the other things. (as long as I have my priorities straight. :)

Kam said...

amen sister! drowning is actually a normal case of mommyhood so i'm sure alot of 'us' are drowning right along with you:)

awesome bathing suit, hehe.
i dream of maids and 24/7 nannies to take control over my life but for now, maybe we can all dream of them.

Jocelyn Christensen said...

IT's so simple! Instead of keeping a to do list, I keep a list of things that I am NOT going to do every day. Laundry is almost always on that list...so I am always proud at the end of the day when I can honestly check off everything on my list to NOT do.

the fowlers said...

I don't do it. :(
In fact, I'm wasting precious shower time online. Thanks for reminding me.

(I get more productive when I have a big soda, snacks, and the TV going in the background. I don't know why.)

Doran & Jody said...

I'm drowning at the moment too.
How bout I just bring some chocolate and we can sit on the steps and pout for a bit. Then get up and do the worst first, then the less time consuming things next.

Nah.....

See Mom Smile said...

Ummmm.... You don't do it all!! There, does that help? What may help is something I left you at my blog!

Braden Bell said...

I don’t know how wise this is, but it’s free advice! When a bishop is called, he’s told that he’ll never be able to do all that is expected. Consequently, he needs to carefully pick what he’s going to do and what he’s going to let go by the wayside.

I think moms need to do the same thing. Several years ago, my wife and I decided that the house was just not going to be a priority. We had a demanding situation with our children and there were some other things. She was still busy, but I really think it helped. You can’t do it all. So counsel with your husband and the Lord and then force yourself to ignore what you can’t do.

Saimi said...

There's people that do it all? Really, who??

You're not alone!

My word verification is outback,
sounds like a good place to go eat dinner...Hmmm maybe it's a sign!

gigi said...

Amen to all of the above!
I've never done it all and i never will. I keep trying but some days you just have to go to the park and play and I like that so much better. Good luck and just go with the flow. I've found that surprisingly enough it's still there when I finally get ot it!

Rachel Sue said...

Bad news. You don't.

But, you do your best. And then shove everything that didn't make it into the trash under the couch.

Heather said...

I agree...there's not enough time in the day...or energy on my part, to do it all! I figure that if we have food on the table, we're doing good ;-) I find myself accomplishing the most when I've had a break/time away for a few hours (even just to the store by myself). Strange, but true! Love your blog by the way!

Mama Smith said...

Years ago...when I just had my "7" child...and our OLDEST was "8" years old...my wise older Visiting Teacher...must have seen how TIRED I looked...(amazing, huh?) She asked me..."Can you make it to the end of the day?" I said..."Yes, I can!" She said..."then, you'll make it!"

I have lived by this ideal ever since..."ONE DAY AT A TIME!"

There are so many WAYS to "organize"...One I am tempted to put into action...

Divide up my week and have ONE or TWO ROOMS listed each day (except Sundays)...that I will tackle and clean up...I figured how bad can a room get in a week? (don't answer that!) Then, SCHEDULED events are put in...AFTER THAT...maybe add another TASK I wish to accomplish - GARDENING...GENEALOGY...READING...etc. The MUST do daily...PRAYERS, SCRIPTURE studies...for me...work BEFORE everyone else gets up...or it doesn't get done...By EVENING I am TOAST!!!

Another person...set a TIMER...and only allowed herself 10 minutes in each room to "straighten up"...That might be an idea...

EVERYONE is RIGHT...there is NO WAY you can do IT ALL...Your children will NOT BE SMALL FOREVER, even if it feels like it NOW...but, this is THEIR SEASON...for your almost CONSTANT ATTENTION...As they get older...they will have RESPONSIBILITIES of working to keep your home in order...but, they MUST be TRAINED while they are YOUNG...that WORK is PART of LIFE...and they might as well learn that NOW...

Everyone needs "time out" in any given day...(even if you only get in 10 minutes) It will increase as your children get older...How you spend that time...is up you...

We LIVE in SEASONS...during our course in life...You are in your SEASON of raising up a YOUNG FAMILY...That too WILL PASS...but, it only comes ONCE in your LIFETIME...Care for it "tenderly" and "prayerfully"...How you HANDLE this SEASON...will DETERMINE how you will spend your NEXT SEASON...Trust me...

You are doing an incredible job, Sarah...Don't beat yourself up...REMEMBER...YOU ONLY HAVE THIS DAY...Use it wisely...It will never come by you again....

LOVE YOU!!!!

dieMutti said...

I'm so glad you posted this - for selfish reasons :) You always seem so cheerful about all your kids and all the messes that they get in to and I was starting to feel like you were the absolute perfect supermom :)... and now I know you feel like me sometimes too!

My sweet hubby works from home and my biggest job every day is to follow my kids around and make sure they aren't screaming so that he can work. Because of that, I don't manage to get much done :( AND I can't do the whole crank-up-the-music and clean thing because he can hear it in his office and he's almost always on a conference call... It's manageable and I'm VERY grateful he's employed, but it's hard to tackle any project because inevitably one of the kids is upset and tries to go find daddy...

Just last night I cried and told hubby that I feel like not only am I not giving 100% to everything, I feel like I'm not even giving 20% to everything I'm expected to do. And I'm tired.

I probably was just in need of chocolate too. Or chips. (I love chips) And maybe a Girls Night. Wanna hang out? :)

Charlotte said...

I feel this way often. I've learned to stop and tread water for a while, maybe even lay back and float. When my lists get to long I go for the 25 mins clean/5 min break routine until it get manageable or I run out of time.

I've learned to be satisfied with the work I did instead of worrying about the work I haven't. If I only have 30 minutes to clean, I'm happy with what I got done in that 5 minutes.

Ramona Zabriskie said...

Here's the secret: YOU NEVER DO IT ALL! EVER EVER EVER EVER. And once you give up that false expectation and go to bed at night, saying, "you know, I really did the best I could" (because you'll realize after mentally recounting the day that you really could not have squeezed in one more thing)...you'll have peace and life will be MUCH more pleasant. (P.S. Shutting down the computer and connecting again with the physical world can help too.)

Carrie said...

Chocolate.

mCat said...

Diet brown bubbly (diet pepsi - diet coke - pick your poison)

And then you decide, nay you REALIZE that you can't do it all. Skip the less important stuff, do the critical stuff and delegate what you can.

Ignore the rest.

JennaK said...

Glad I'm not the only one who feels like Goldie Hawn's character on Overboard who sits there reciting "bah, bah, bah, bah, bah" over and over again while the boys throw grapes at her.

You just take a break when it gets like this and refocus. What's important?

I know how you feel!

Susan Anderson said...

I just did it like you do...one day at a time...and by the skin of my teeth.

=)

PS. I think you seem to manage amazingly well...and even maintain your sense of humor!

The Kooky Queen--Rachel said...

Wearing shoes around my house makes me feel like I'm rubbing dog poop into my carpet. SO I wear my slippers and sit in my PJs all day and either way, nothing gets done, haha! :)

Larsen said...

Serene,

I don't know about these crazy people.

I get everything done, every day, with time to spare.

Gina

(Insert eye roll and sarcastic evil laugh here.)

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