I'm a planner; an organizer. I am NOT a wait until the last minute kind of gal. When I started this One Word Challenge, I debated about how many weeks it should last. Was six enough? Was eight too many? I settled on eight and had full intentions of giving it everything I had. I was going to study the words many days in advance and let them seep into my soul; give them plenty of time to inspire me. I was going to write some wondrously insightful posts a few days before publishing to give myself time to review, edit, and revise.
Weeks 1 through 4, I did it. I followed the plan. Week 5, last week, I slipped a little, but pulled it off. Now, week 6 and I am typing a haphazard piece at 9:30pm, less than 8 hours before it is supposed to go live. Truthfully, if I wasn't the host of this whole shindig, I would most certainly have just bailed out. I hate doing it this way. I know it's not my best writing and I feel like I'm letting my readers down.
So what happened this week? Life.
I talk to my mom on the phone almost every Sunday afternoon/evening and, routinely, she asks me if I'm expecting the upcoming week to be busy. Although I may occasionally mention a kid's field trip or some out of the ordinary obligation like serving jury duty last week, my standard answer is "No, just the usual."
The truth is that "the usual" is indeed busy. A normal, status quo week is filled with rushed mornings, riding lessons, piano lessons, homework, errands that must be run, my part time job, this blog and the associated social media tasks, as well as a husband who frequently travels for work. Throw in a birthday party, various appointments, a extraneous meeting of some kind, or some sort of alteration to the normal agenda and the typical "busy" just gets busier. I don't refer to it as busy, though, because it has simply become routine.
I used to be a scheduler, mapping out entire weeks in advance. Now, I usually take life day by day because, sometimes, it's all I can do to figure out tomorrow much less try to wrap my brain around the days beyond.
So, here in week 6, I have faltered, but don't be confused or surprised. Life is just busy and messy sometimes. When it gets a little too overwhelming, we just have to take a breath, relax, and reset. There are two weeks of this challenge to go and I WILL do it better for those last two weeks. I will plan ahead and I will allow time for the words to create a vision and make space in my schedule for the words to flow.
How are you doing with this challenges or the challenging, busy schedules in your own life?
This post was part of the One Word Blog Challenge. The word prompt choices for this week were guilty, tomorrow, and confused.
43 comments:
Thank you for you for letting me know it isn't just me and seriously life totally just has a way of getting indeed in the way more often then not. I totally shared similar tonight and seems like we have this and more in common, Lisa!!
Oh, life...I've been bogged down by it quite a bit lately too. I'm just finally getting caught up on laundry with my new machine. Something else will go by he wayside soon, I'm sure!
I think you managed a perfect one word post. I really thought I would be on the ball and be able to comment to this challenge. I think I only made it the first week. Maybe I'll make it to the last one. I am convinced that social media and productivity apps give us less time to do stuff and really connect. But I can't stop using either. I also wish I needed only like 4 hours of sleep.
It seems that we are all on the same page. Life is always crazy busy. I work a full-time afternoon/evening job, a husband, a dog, a home to run, chores to constantly tend to, and a blog to maintain with all of the responsibilities that you mentioned. It's definitely not easy to keep up with all of it sometimes and to do it all well ... which is why I was up until nearly 3 AM last night (after work) finishing my post. It's not the way I like to do things, but still - when it was finished I patted myself on the back for having completed it. :)
Despite what I just said, I love this One Word Challenge and hate to see it end. We've had so many regular participants with so many great posts each week. I'm wondering if anyone is interested in continuing it another 8 weeks (beginning in either March or April), and I'm wondering if you'd mind, Lisa if I hosted a continued version of the challenge link-up on Blogitudes? Please let me know your thoughts on this .... and, as always, thank you for hosting this one and for always giving us such great words to work with. :)
My life has been seriously getting in the way of blogging, but, hopefully, I might be getting some of the time I need for it back.
I'm glad you're not being too hard on yourself, Lisa. Busy does get in the way. I'm linking up tomorrow morning, with a completely pathetic excuse for why life has gotten in the way for me this week. Hope you don't mind a late entry!
I think we probably have a lot in common, Janine! :-)
It seems a lot of people are struggling right now. Maybe it's just the time of year.
Yes - If I could get by on 4 hours of sleep I could get so much more done! Unfortunately, I typically get about 7 hours and I'm usually about to pass out by around 9:00 every night.
Thanks, Marcia! I have really enjoyed the challenge, too. When I first had the idea, I considered making it a weekly link up, but the feedback I got was that most people already felt overwhelmed by linkup obligations. Once the challenge is over, my plan is to send a survey to all the participants to see if they would be interested in doing it again later in the year and/or making it a regular linkup - once a wee, once a month, etc. Once I get that feedback, I will decide where to go with it. I wold definitely be open to you hosting it on your blog sometime or even the two of us co-hosting it if we decide to make ti a regular thing. I will keep you in the loop and thanks so much for you participation, support, and interest!
It seems to come in waves -0 the busy-ness. This week and last were just nuts for me. Next week is looking a little less busy, but my husband will be out of town for work, so we'll see. I almost ready for summer vacation already!
Don't mind at all! Can't wait to read it.
I was nodding along with this post because I am similar. And the routine IS busy, we just may not see it that way since we are so used to it, right?
Life is busy!! Even when I plan the fact that I live with and care for 5 other people just makes it crazy no matter what. This year I have decided to just go with the flow and not beat myself up when I falter. It's more important I raise strong and good people and that means sometimes plans just need to fall to the wayside.
Darn. Missed the linkup.
I definitely think we are more busy than we used to be. I was talking to someone and mentioned that I wasn't that busy, then listed all of the things that I do in a day, and indeed, it has become the status quo.
Here's my post. http://www.aprilnoelle.com/2015/02/what-does-tomorrow-hold/
Oh yes I can relate to the busy "routine." My 3 kids were playing on SIX different basketball teams this winter (it's now winding down), so our weeks have been crazy, running from one gym to the next. I too was taking it day by day because otherwise it was just too overwhelming...how many days until summer when everyone is in camp all day??
It will change. Enjoy it while you can and don't rush it!
Right. Lately it has felt a little overwhelming, though.
I have relaxed a lot over the years. There was a time when i would have had entire months planned out in advance. The's just not possible these days and I have had no choice but to let it go! :-)
Exactly! Busy is the new normal! I was able to add your link since I'm the admin. :-)
SIX?!?!?! Yikes!!!
Yup. I can TOTALLY relate to this, lisa!! And bless your heart for this amazing challenge you have taken on! I wanted to do it SO badly, but knew I couldn't keep up with other posts I was needing to write. LIFE is busy...these days more than ever it seems. Sigh...
I can never keep up.
I want to do this every week but it always coincides with Finish the Sentence and I forget that I could combine them... and now, Tucker and I are both sick so yeah, I can relate. Life is way too busy
What I great link up! I need to remember to stop by!
Great list. Love the color of your new bag!
I LOVE THAT PURSE. I have been eyeballing one very much like it. It's shocking pink and I tell myself it's too much of a splurge for something I can't carry with everything. I am now inspired to go bag shopping.
I LOVE any sweet moscato!! And I want to see your new bag!!! Good for YOU! ;)
Oh WAIT!!! I just spotted it in your photo collage!!! *nevermind* It's GORGEOUS!!! That color is soooo vibrant! LOVE.
Well, I think you are doing an awesome job at this! With such a busy sched, you pulled through and only 2 more weeks to go! I intended to join the Tuesday link up every week and have managed to join only once since. Sigh.
I can't believe we don't have tide pods! #thirdworldproblems LOL This week, I'm thankful for the holiday on Thursday and that our landlord finally replaced the broken tiles on the kitchen counter. :)
Sometimes, I just don't know why we get as busy as we do! But you're doing fine, and your post made me think!
I can't keep up either Chris! I love this challenge, but honestly, I will be relieve when it is finished. But, I would love to do it again in the future!
I know! I have slacked on FTSF because I do Tuesday Ten and this and that's all I can manage. 😖 Hope you and Mr. T are feeling better now!
Well, if I wasn't the host/co-host, I probably wouldn't link up either! :-) I like linkups for the connections I am able to make, but they can be a burden.
I don't know why we do it either! Glad the post gave you some food for thought! :-)
Buy it! I had been watching this one and hoping it would go on sale. Finally, I just gave in and bought it! :-)
Moscato is my favorite! I can't take the "strong" stuff. 😜
Ha! They are great. Yay for new tiles!
Thanks! My daughter loves that "chicken!"
I feel this way every week! No big deal. Then by Monday I'm in a full on panic thinking of everything i have to do. Love the quote...it's good to keep things in perspective.
I just bought myself some yurbuds! Love them!! :)
I love love your new bag! And I need to check out Soma!
Glad it's not just me! I thought that quote was pretty good - a bit of a reality check.
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