Don't
waste memory making moments
I was
"busy" working on my laptop when my hubby asked me to come join
him on the porch. I resisted at first. Then my own words echoed in
my head, "don't waste memory making moments!" So, I turned off
the laptop and joined him. Within a few moments I noticed a beautiful
butterfly floating around us. He settled on our Lilac bush.
Awww, memory making moment in the making! We oowed and awwed at how
strangly beautiful it was. I grabbed my camera and got a great shot of
him.
When my
schedule begins to overwhelm me, I take a deep breath and re-focus on the world
around me. Too often, as a naturally disorganized business
owner/wife/mom, I get caught up in schedules, to-do's and deadlines. I focus on
the stuff and junk around me and missout on the people and special
moments in the midst.
So, how do we deal with schedules and necessary daily work during summer and still enjoy spending time with people we love? Here are a few of the ideas that worked for me when my kids were younger; they still work now that my hubby and I are "empty nesters".
1. Get up before the kids. This
is easy if you have teens, but with "itty-bitty's" at home, it
takes extra effort to get up before them. Planning ahead, including
setting your alarm clock will open up timefor you to create better
summerdays.
What can you accomplish in just 1 hour while the kids still sleep?
a. one load of laundry; washed, dried and folded (with timein between for quick jobs like dusting one room,scrub toilets, etc)b.shower and dressed with makeup on!c. lunch made and ready for picnic, beach day or just regular lunchtime meal plus time to load or unload the dish washerd. read email andrespond with time left to pay bills online. (Highly recommended for all naturally disorganized people - we tend to pay bills late and online billpay makes it easier for us)e. plan meals for the week and write a shopping list
The list could go on and on, but what we need to recognize is
how much we can accomplish in just a short amount of time while the kids are
still tucked away.
2.Reserve 1/2 an hour for yourself
before bed
We tend to"do" for everyone else as the day
ends, then drop into bed and watch TV or read until we fall asleep. Don't
get me wrong, "me time" includes recreational reading and TV time,
but during the summer we need to use that down time to better prepare for the
next days events - then drop into bed :)
Here is what I recommend be accomplished before bed.
a. check next days scheduleb. gather items needed for the activity into one location.
ex 1: picnic at the park with friends - get a bag packed with sunscreen, towells, blanket, toys, and lunch stuff that doesn't need refrigeration and put it all in the car.
ex 2: Networking business breakfast - gather business cards, get name tag, gather any info you want to pass out and put it in the car.
c. check location and either print a map or make a note of address so you can use GPS effectively.d. go to bed without "to-do's" hanging over your head!
By preparing a little bit before bed plus using your first hour in the
morning, before everyone is awake, you'll be ready to enjoy your days schedule
and hopefully create some "memory making moments".
