If I could summarize my biggest need right now it would be time. I need time with Amanda. I need time to have fun with music and photography. I need time at work to get better at what I do. I need time to organize.
Right now it seems like life is getting in the way of living. It’s not fun.
Some examples: I haven’t filed papers at home in six months. Amanda and I cook at home MAYBE two nights a week. I love to write yet I go weeks without writing at all (you can see the gaps here as proof). I’m a graphic designer who spends half as much time as would be proper on projects. I haven’t gone on a local photo safari in months. I pick up my guitar briefly every couple of weeks. I have little time to learn and less time to practice new techniques in design. Right now it seems like life is getting in the way of living. It’s not fun.
So what’s in the way? Why do Amanda and I rarely just chill out away from the house? Why do I work 8-10 hour days and not get it all done? Why do I spend time at home and never get organized? Why am I never able to spend time learning?
Someone! Help! Please!
I’ve had some ideas but as of yet they haven’t paid off or I haven’t stuck with them. Someone recommended changing my sleeping schedule to go to bed earlier and get up earlier. Unfortunately something in my physiology hates that and always has. I don’t know how to become a “morning person”. It would be nice though.
Another suggestion was to get to work earlier and leave right at five instead of working late. My job though includes at least one night I have to stay (Wednesday @ Youth Group), one night I like to stay (Tuesday @ Elevate), one night I’m usually slammed and it becomes a late day (Mondays), one night with my small group, and if I’m in the band or helping set up for Sunday it’s another night (Thursday). Most weeks I am at the church four of the seven nights in the week, sometimes five. It’s killing me. No, I’m not being forced into this schedule but I don’t know of a better one. How can I still get and give the ministry and community I need and still have a life?
The other is a question of my productivity. I feel like I get interrupted (Ha ha. I JUST got a phone call about a printer that isn’t working. Interruptions in action.) all the time and it kills my productivity. When I was looking for solutions I found a PDF from Stephen B. Jenkins of the Institute for Aerospace Research for National Research Council of Canada. His research found that “interruptions that occur within 15 or 20 minutes of each other can cause your productivity to fall to near zero.” That might explain why I get my best and most productive work done after 5pm. No one is here to distract me or interrupt me. Given, my job involves tech support but I feel like there is a better way than repeated “Got a minute?” entries through my doorway. I wish I could have designated work times where no one can bother me. Too bad I can’t hide. My 24″ iMac with second 22″ monitor is a little hard to throw in a backpack and go to Starbucks.
Any ideas? I’d love them. I have to get more productive so that I can work and live without harming the other.
If you have any ideas please leave them in the comments area. Please.
