{"id":710,"date":"2015-04-25T11:45:38","date_gmt":"2015-04-25T18:45:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.evergreen.edu\/losttimecheryl\/?p=101"},"modified":"2015-04-25T11:45:38","modified_gmt":"2015-04-25T18:45:38","slug":"too-much-to-do","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sites.evergreen.edu\/losttime\/too-much-to-do\/","title":{"rendered":"Too Much To Do"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ever had so much to do, so many responsibilities that when put together, seem impossible to complete in any sense of good time? That\u2019s where I am right now.<\/p>\n

I look around my house and know so much needs to be done, from cleaning to repair for both aesthetic and safety sakes. The house is half painted, the fence needs repair, the back porch needs to have the railings installed, and the garage needs to be organized before the husband gets injured\u2026<\/p>\n

I also have the daily living tasks that need to be done, more than a whole day\u2019s worth, the grocery shopping, filling the car with gas, cooking for the week- I don\u2019t have time during the week to cook-, feeding the dog- oops- I forgot to buy dog food, so another store trip. Clean up after the dogs, wash the dogs, feed the chickens, feed the husband- eat with him, he won\u2019t eat unless I sit with him, laundry, vacume the house\u2026 maybe take a shower at some point in the day, mow the lawns, cut down the weeds…<\/p>\n

I also have to take care of the husband, he is home alone, mostly all week, ill and unable to do much of anything without support. On weekends, he needs company and his feet scrubbed and cared for, his bedding changed, attention given. He tries to help sometimes, he started to build feeders for the chickens- couldn\u2019t finish- and so this is added to my task list- Now, before the parts are lost. He wanted a fish pond- I built it last week to his specifications- now he wants something different- Now. Many jobs or tasks are started with good intentions during the week, while I am at school, on the weekends, I get to finish them, and they have to be done Now: High Priority.<\/p>\n

Then the demands of the rest of the family add to my responsibilities. A son needs help paying a bill,- oops- I haven\u2019t paid mine yet- add it to the High priority list, Another child\u2019s car breaks down- have to take time to go get him, pay for the tow and arrange to have the car fixed. One needs to talk, another needs a ride, another is short on food, and somehow, I am the answer.<\/p>\n

Then I have homework, and assigned reading, and more homework. I could work around the clock and not finish what is due on Monday.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

So what do I do first, and when? Ive been told \u201cMake a list and prioritize, schedule your tasks, get organized, have them do it themselves.\u201d All great strategies, all take time to implement. So, I have to ask myself, is it worth the time to make these lists? I don\u2019t know yet, I\u2019ve tried in the past and the list just gets longer and longer and the interruptions of daily life happen and not one thing gets accomplished on the \u201clist\u201d. But I work non-stop.<\/p>\n

Today, my strategy is to just stop for a moment, and write this journal entry for class. (Homework Category) I am going to see if I can get this ONE<\/span> item done.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

So how does it go?<\/p>\n

Up and started at 530 am- guilty for sleeping in an extra 15 min.<\/p>\n

Start this journal entry<\/p>\n

Stop- fix breakfast, sit at table while husband eats, get his meds, feed the chickens, and feed the dogs<\/p>\n

Back to the Journal entry<\/p>\n

Stop- the husbands computer won\u2019t let him read his newspaper- Why?,\u00a0\u00a0 go through the computer and try to figure out what is wrong, discover that it is the newspaper site that is causing the problem, tell the husband he will have to wait<\/p>\n

Back to the journal entry<\/p>\n

Stop- he wants answers, wants to call the paper, write the paper about not being able to read what he paid for. Take time to show him the phone number and set up email contact.<\/p>\n

Back to the Journal entry<\/p>\n

Stop- The washer is empty, I must start laundry, Now. I start laundry and then realize that his bathroom is messy, take the time to clean it up.<\/p>\n

Back to the Journal entry<\/p>\n

Stop- the dogs are barking- Why? Call them in, Chase a chicken back into the pen before they eat her<\/p>\n

Back to the Journal entry<\/p>\n

Stop- funny noise from the laundry room- washer leaking all over the floor, clean up the mess, investigate the cause, take apart the washer and discover the pump is broken. Empty the washer and go to the store to buy another pump, install it, refill and re-start the load of laundry. The husbands car is gone, phone left on his desk, wonder what he is up to now?<\/p>\n

Back to the Journal entry<\/p>\n

Stop-Husband drives up, he went shopping, car needs to be unloaded, the groceries put away, lunch started, oops- have to wash the dishes from this morning, what\u2019s for lunch? – discover that he only bought snacks, some he is not allowed, and now wants to go out for lunch. \u201cOK, can I have 15 min to do homework before we go?\u201d \u201cOK\u201d,<\/p>\n

Back to the Journal entry<\/p>\n

Stop: I need help getting my shoes on<\/p>\n

Back to the Journal entry<\/p>\n

Stop: you better get dressed better than that<\/p>\n

Back to the Journal entry<\/p>\n

Stop: \u201cI\u2019m Hungry, It\u2019s been more than 15 min. Let\u2019s go\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

And so my day goes. By midnight my journal entry is finally complete.<\/p>\n

What did I get done?<\/p>\n