One of the ways that I problem solve and figure things out is by writing down my thoughts. What follows is a think session that I had today. Maybe you are in a season of kicking butt and taking names, overflowing with ideas that have been working for you. Maybe you're on the struggle bus with me, unable to get everything done but you'd still like to see me brainstorm. Maybe you're very uninterested in this topic and should skip this post. Ha ha. Anyway, here's my current think-tank result:
I've been feeling stretched a little thin for a while; been waking up still fatigued in the morning. Part of that is related to allergy season, but I'm really having a hard time getting to all my work. Errands, chores, the garden, bills, personal care, gym classes, protocols for my health issue, one-on-one time with Jeff and the kids, elderly pet care, chicken chores, fun outings with the fam, etc. Every day is full to the brim. For over a month I've needed to swap kombucha batches, spray weeds in the side yard, clean the gunk out of the sprinkler heads that are malfunctioning, and spray the house with Home Defense, but I simply haven't had the time to get to these low priority items. This week was unusually busy and I had two days when I flat didn't do the dishes. The dishes are one chore that I make sure happen because a tidy and functional kitchen is very high on my priority list. But somehow I had a few days get away from me.
I haven't been upset about these things, but for sure noticing that I've got more chores than I do time lately. Part of it is that the kids recently ramped up into more work hours and have been enjoying a wonderful social life now that the weather has improved and there are more fun things to do. With their rotating shifts, it has gotten much harder to figure out who can do what and when, so I do most things now.
After working in the garden this morning, I came in and surveyed what all needed to be tended to in the remaining hours. I realized that, once again, it was not possible to get to it all. I needed to tackle the most pressing things and let the rest go. I sighed and mentioned to Jeff that I am falling behind in my work and he said kindly, "Yeah, I think you let your life get too big. Once the kids all have their own cars, you won't have to taxi them around as much. Then you'll be able to feel on top of things again." I agreed and thought, "Maybe it's fine. Maybe it's just one of the things that happens in life and I just need to ride it out." Then I moved on to my next chore.
The next chore was to dye a pair of pants that Jax needs for an event that he was invited to this weekend. (I offered to do it because I knew it would make them fit the costume better.) I went to get my giant stockpot and experienced something that made me see the grievous effects of my hectic schedule: As I hefted the stockpot down from its storage place, it felt inordinately heavy to me. I asked aloud, "Why is this so heavy? Is there something in it?" I sat it on the ground, removed the lid, and was assaulted by more than 10 lbs. of red onions, liquified and moldy. Rotten onion soup.
I instantly realized how it happened. Many months ago, I placed some of my cured garden onions in the stock pot with the lid ajar, intending to come back to them as needed. Well, actually I intended to make time to figure out a permanent storage situation for the 150 onions that I harvested out of the garden but completely forgot about it because I placed the stockpot too high for my eye to catch on the onions and didn't write a reminder for myself. Then, about two months ago I cleaned the garage. I noticed that the lid of the stockpot was ajar, so I slid it over and unknowingly sealed the onions in.
That may sound like a little whoops to you, but because of the way things have been going, I had alarm bells going off at high volume. I knew that this was not a one-off, but rather a symptom of a more systemic problem. I thought: "This is not okay! Your life has grown too big! You have produce liquifying in your garage and you didn't even know it!" To add insult to injury, I have been buying red onions from the store all winter, when I had more than 10 lbs in my garage.
As a person who functions best in an orderly environment, I am normally pretty diligent to know what I have and where it is located. And actually, it's highly unusual for anything to go missing in our home because a spot has been created for every thing and every person knows to place things in their home when they're done with them. Besides that, I have always kept to a cleaning schedule to make sure that things are tended to at regular intervals. So this type of thing is not normal for me. Gradually, though, life's pace has increased and I'm now spread so thin that I am unusually forgetful and making more mistakes. I realize that I need to slow down and pay better attention to my home.
But how? Our life is bigger than it has ever been, and it's all incredibly good stuff. I don't want to cull any of it! So I don't know. That's why I'm here, typing and thinking it through. I think I'll list some simple things I can do this week, just to get me started:
1. Simple dinners = less dishes. Make a list of options.
2. Double-batch dinners. My family loves leftovers--take advantage of this!
3. Buy a big pack of paper plates for garden days when I don't have time for clean-up. No guilt!
4. Spring clean the pantry and garage storage. Give all produce a permanent home that is below eye level.
5. While I'm at it, defrost the deep freezer and create a menu that utilizes the oldest foods. (This will be easy as I have been pretty diligent about doing this over the winter.)
6. One errand day per week. Too much running around wastes time and completely zaps my energy. From now on, if I forget something or the kids have an unexpected need, they can pick it up or we can make do without it.
7. Start using my chore calendar again. I don't know why I let myself get out of the habit. It includes easier-to-miss things like spraying dormant oil on the fruit trees and changing out furnace filters, as well as fertilizing houseplants and cleaning bathroom fan vents. It's very helpful, if only I would use it!
8. Alternate inside work with outside work days. Work zone-to-zone to not feel like I'm running around like a chicken with its head cut off. Too often my mornings have become disjointed: I unload half the dishwasher and then realize that it's getting hot and I need to get my garden watered before any more time elapses. So I run out to water the garden and get 90% through before someone needs to be taken to work. I take them, come home to finish watering, then head inside to finish the dishes. I'm all over the place! This will help.
9. Invite in. Instead of going out to do things, invite people over. It's just as much fun to sit and sip sweet tea in the back yard as it is to go to coffee. And since you're just hanging out at home, you don't have to get "ready," which is something that I feel like I'm spending way too much time doing each day.
10. Let people help. Jeff and the kids are so willing if I would just ask. Look at the kids' schedules to find pockets of time when they can help.
11. Write it down. Keep a pad of paper on my nightstand, next to my spot in the living room, and on the kitchen island, all for me to jot down notes for things I need to tend to that are outside of my normal workload. Hopefully this will minimize forgetfulness.
12. Ask God to help me to order my days each morning.
That's what I've got so far. I'd love to hear your best tips for simplifying life during a very busy season. How do you slow things down when it feels like every day is go, go, go?
Lots of love,
Sarah
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