I'm not a fan of being too busy

In my profession and among friends, I often feel my less-than-packed schedule is considered odd. Ask me Monday morning what I did over the weekend, and my answer is usually - I relaxed. Which is true! I sleep as late as Capone lets me, read a lot, cook for family dinner and our weekday lunches, and clean a bit. Then come the walks with Mr. G, unaccounted for hours of leisure, and more reading. Strange maybe, but it suits me. 

And over the past ten days, I've been reminded of just how much I love (and thrive in) my relaxed schedule. 

It all started about two weeks ago when my husband was reassigned at work. (You may remember that he worked night shift.) His new position should be temporary, but with it comes longer, daytime hours and a nightmarish rush hour commute. To compensate for his reduced time at home, I volunteered to take on some of his work around the house. 

But that was short-lived because we then had (unexpectedly) a week full of extremely late nights at work for me. I came home, ate a quick dinner and went to bed several times last week. The weekend brought a little relief (though we had two family functions and a charity event, at least I got to sleep in til 6:30 and go to yoga!). 

Looking at our schedule for the week ahead, I feel so much calmer.  I will drive home while it's still light out! I will have the time and energy to wash a pot after cooking dinner! I will read more than 5 pages of my book! (Currently working on The Magicians, if you're curious.) 

I'll even have a blog post on Wednesday! :)

Comments

  1. My schedule is "chopped up" with a combination of day, evening and weekend work hours; plus 4 or 5 evening meetings each month. When I'm not doing those things, I am quite easy on myself and relax a lot!

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    1. A mix sounds good, except the weekend part. I used to waitress, so weekend hours were a given, but it made scheduling family events or nights out with friends difficult.

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  2. I'm with you on a generally relaxed schedule; I'm a total fan. While week days are a tad more hectic, we try to do something as a family or socially MAYBE one day during the weekend (or on Friday night) and spend the rest of the time however we please. It still usually entails lots of cooking and cleaning on my part, but it's leisurely, "I don't have to be in a rush" time spent. :-)

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    1. Yes! Just the lack of time crunch can make a big difference in my stress level. Besides, I think I cook better when I'm not rushing :)

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  3. Well, as a lazy slob I have to say that I'm in complete agreement. Generally speaking if I've got one thing on my to-do list for the day, that's enough for me. "Go to the grocery store" - yup that'll be enough for one day! :-)

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  4. PS can you believe YHL is taking a break!?!?!?

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    1. I remember reading in one of their posts that they don't share the blog work with anyone, it's all done by just the two of them, so I'm surprised they don't take more breaks. Most of the other big blogs I read take off random weeks for vacations (or at least childbirth). I know I couldn't work constantly - I need time for me! I just hope they come back :)

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    2. I cannot believe how hard they worked for so long and so hard, just the two of them. But it worked so well for them! We all loved it! So I also hope they come back too!

      It was a PS cause I obviously had a gobbled comment :( Basically - I know how you feel, as my recent posts have indicated!!

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    3. Sorry about the gobbled comment! I checked my spam folder in case it had been sent there, but no dice.

      Thankfully Mr. G's new work schedule isn't permanent - I hope yours improves soon!

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  5. After spending 20 years running around with hardly any free time I now relish my relaxed schedule...a lot! It's funny but it took me a long time to realise that I didn't have to be 'busy' all the time. I'm glad you have it sort of worked out already :)

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    1. I agree . . sometimes there seems to be this pressure to have a full, productive schedule but I'm really a happier person with more down time. So glad to hear I'm not alone!

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  6. There was an article here this week about how often people answer 'Hi - how are you?' with 'Oh, you know - sooo busy" and how it can sometimes be a 'humble-brag' about an important job or a person's self-worth. I think that is often the case. That said though, it is really hard for working parents not to feel like they are running around endlessly, what with kids' activities, work, older family members to deal with. I don't like 'being busy' so I try my best to 'say no' where reasonable and give myself enough down-time!

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    1. I'm sure it is tough adding kids to the mix. I remember my parents were very grateful when I started driving because it gave them more free time!

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  7. I'm trying to learn your way. I overjam my days.

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  8. I don't like being too busy either. My weekends are generally catch-ups - with housework, with sleep, with Mr S. Work colleagues often comment, when I say I did nothing on the weekend, with surprise, as if I have wasted my days. And yes, if I wasn't so busy and thus exhausted from work, I might do more but I only have room in my life for so much busyness, and at the moment work is taking it all.

    I had a friend who "fitted me in" one weekend to see a movie and have a snack afterwards. She'd come from a lunch date and was going out to dinner afterwards. That sounded like madness, not fun, to me. As if she wasn't happy with herself and was running around go find happiness. And that was only the Sunday. She'd done the same on Saturday. I'd be dead by Monday.

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    1. Yes, I think my colleagues think the same about me!

      Oh my, I'd need a recovery day after a weekend like your friend's. I can't imagine doing that on a regular basis.

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