Time
Another signal that I am clearly into adulthood: I don't have enough time. I never have enough time to do the things that I wanted to do. I have loads of grand schemes in my head, only for them to be dashed.
Yesterday, for example, this was my planned schedule:
Sometimes I still plan my days and time as if I still were in the States. Meaning I still think I have a car and I can get places quickly. If I miss the bus, it takes me 10 minutes to walk out to Leith Walk to get it. Then I may or may not have to wait for a bus there as well. All this travel time -- it all adds up. And it's something I have no control over. So I can plan to my heart's content, but if the driver's stuck in some jam, there are my plans out the window. A lot of times, I walk, cos things are relatively close. But a twenty-minute walk there and back to the shops certainly adds up.
I also think I should have my schedule jammed packed. That's what efficient people do. I remember this one friend in the States who was so efficient with her time. She always pulled out her diary before she made any plans. I remember one day she had two extra-curricular activities (non-work things) planned and still had the time to meet with me! I know that I spend lots of my time idle -- look at this blog. And I feel guilt for my laziness. And so I try to fit everything in.
The thing I'm realising is is that I'm not a bad person for not being able to fit loads of things in my day. This doesn't mean anything about me, nor about my very efficient friend, save that she must have some German stock in her family (actually, she's got Irish roots, but if you ask me, she should delve deeper cos there's got to be some German there). I know I get bogged down with unimportant tasks. So now I'm trying to order my activities. Things I need to do. Things I want to do. Things that would be nice to do. Maybe this way, I'll feel less guilty. And feel good about the things I get done.
Yesterday, for example, this was my planned schedule:
- 10.00-10.30 Check out saleroom
10.30-11.00 Walk the dogs
11.00-12.30 Go for a swim
12.30-2.00 Go shopping
2.00-3.30 Play volleyball in the park
3.30-5.00 More shopping
5.00-6.00 Go home to prepare for dinner party
6.30 Meet Boy at bus stop to get to dinner party
7.00 Dinner party
Sometimes I still plan my days and time as if I still were in the States. Meaning I still think I have a car and I can get places quickly. If I miss the bus, it takes me 10 minutes to walk out to Leith Walk to get it. Then I may or may not have to wait for a bus there as well. All this travel time -- it all adds up. And it's something I have no control over. So I can plan to my heart's content, but if the driver's stuck in some jam, there are my plans out the window. A lot of times, I walk, cos things are relatively close. But a twenty-minute walk there and back to the shops certainly adds up.
I also think I should have my schedule jammed packed. That's what efficient people do. I remember this one friend in the States who was so efficient with her time. She always pulled out her diary before she made any plans. I remember one day she had two extra-curricular activities (non-work things) planned and still had the time to meet with me! I know that I spend lots of my time idle -- look at this blog. And I feel guilt for my laziness. And so I try to fit everything in.
The thing I'm realising is is that I'm not a bad person for not being able to fit loads of things in my day. This doesn't mean anything about me, nor about my very efficient friend, save that she must have some German stock in her family (actually, she's got Irish roots, but if you ask me, she should delve deeper cos there's got to be some German there). I know I get bogged down with unimportant tasks. So now I'm trying to order my activities. Things I need to do. Things I want to do. Things that would be nice to do. Maybe this way, I'll feel less guilty. And feel good about the things I get done.
posted by Autumn at 4.6.06
5 Comments:
hi! forgot to check in on you here! i know exactly what you mean with the transportation vs. productivity factor. it's really hard to have a page long to-do list and end your day disappointed as you transfer more than half your list over to tomorrow's list. but oh the excercise you get now that you never did before! all that running for buses sitting at the stop... you turn the corner and see it there and hope that a quick 100 metre sprint will get you to it before it pulls away, leaving you fully bummed out, late and wet/freezing/inconvenienced. ahh, yes. put all those sprints together end to end and i'm sure we'd all be running a marathon, with you near two...
Well said Svety. I do have my sprint for the bus to work that I make at least once a week.
Ah!! The days of meeting bus schedules, having exact change, jostling for seats, etc. No bus system here--lamentable, cause I would use it.
It's the journey, not the destination!
Super color scheme, I like it! Keep up the good work. Thanks for sharing this wonderful site with us.
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