A reader recently asked for a glimpse into my schedule, a look into how I get it all done. This has had me thinking a lot as I've been faced with long work days followed by coming home to two lonely dogs and a severely neglected marathon training schedule - the truth is, I don't. I can't get it all done anymore. There just simply aren't enough hours in the day.
Balance is something I have struggled with a lot since moving out to Chicago (almost) a year ago. The balance between work and life and the blog - it hasn't been easy. Before I moved to my new apartment, work and the blog had taken over my life. I was living five minutes from my office, outside of the city and I knew no one - it was all too easy to spend all of my free time holed up in the apartment, which of course, gave me plenty of time to blog. Moving to the city has given me a life again, which ends up leaving me with less time for everything else. Every weekend I set the ambitious goal of writing and scheduling an entire week's worth of blog content and most of the time, it just doesn't happen. I feel terrible about neglecting the blog and not being able to read and comment on as many other blogs or spend as much time interacting with friends and readers on Twitter - I wish I could have an extra five hours every day (that's what I've determined would be necessary), but it's just not in the cards.
So my advice for getting it all done? Don't worry about it so much. Make lists and be realistic about your priorities. Take time for yourself and schedule some alone time into your busy schedule on a regular basis. Recognize the fact that there are only so many hours in the day and you are only one person. Set goals and stick to them, but don't set too many at a time. Appreciate the little things and be grateful for all that you have, always.
Great post! I totally agree with you, there are a set amount of time in a day and we can't get everything done!
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely love this. It's what I have dedicated my entire blog to trying to do--finding & building a balance. http://www.buildabalance.blogspot.com. But of course, friends, fun, bad days and all of life's ups & downs constantly like to sneak in and get in the way, mocking your to-do list and making you feel like you've failed. When I step back to think about it though, I realize that sometimes blowing off my to-do list is for something completely worth it and me wasting time feeling guilty and worrying about not checking off every little thing is wasting more time than just looking forward and realizing you can only do so much. Thank you for your words--my roomie literally posted this to my wall because she said it reminded her of me so much!
ReplyDeleteGreat post! I've been feeling this way more and more lately - I can't get everything done, there are not enough hours in the day. I keep two blogs and recently I decided to put one on hold and focus on the other until I can strike a balance for both. I feel like the second blog is quickly becoming more acknowledged than the first by readers, so I'm seriously considering letting the first go. I just haven't been able to do that just yet. As much as I love a daily post from a blog I like, I totally understand that people have lives! If you can only post once a week, I'm betting it will be a great post. Quality over quantity always.
ReplyDeleteAnd more importantly: when blogging is something you feel like you're forcing, that's the time to step away from it, just like anything else in life. Being discouraged by something you enjoy is only going to make you dislike it more. Like you said, balance is key. Now, if it were only a little easier to get to that point!
Ashley
www.welovedhere.com
I think you are right. We all need balance in our lives. I don't really get enough of that either, I moved to San Francisco area in June and I haven't really met anyone but work keeps me busy and on my days off I'm out trying to learn the city or running errands. I neglect my blog and feel horrible but what can one do.
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