insanity – not the workout, the next two weeks

Posted: August 16, 2010 at 7:00 pm

Oh my goodness! A quick glance at my calendar for the next two weeks could send my head into a tailspin. I can hardly believe how I packed it all in. The tasks and events included are not all necessarily huge time commitments, but when a regular day provides you with more than enough to do those little things add up. Here’s a quick glance at the things coming my way –

  • This week – HUGE consigment sale, small group leaders meeting at church, bridesmaid’s dress alterations appointment, church dinner event, lunch date with Em (yay!), and recipe bridal shower.
  • Next week – Birthday (Monday!) play date with friend, cooking meal to bring to a new-mommy friend, doctor appointment to find out the sex of the baby, planning/prep for the lingerie shower I’m throwing, and the friend’s bachelorette party.

The “old” me, aka the depressed/anxiety ridden/binger me of 3 years ago, would have flipped a lid looking at that. The “new” me still lets out a little “EEP!” but then recognizes that I will get through. I have to. These things are going to happen and are already planned out, so why fret over them? Instead, I will pull out my handy dandy time-management protocol for situations such as these.

Plan Ahead
I already have a general schedule I stick to throughout my weekdays. It helps me to know when I need to focus on certain tasks and keeps me productive. I know, however, that I cannot follow my normal schedule and accomplish all I normally have time to when other responsibilities come up. That means giving up some things. I plan ahead what I will focus on accomplishing and what we can manage without. Things like cleaning and checking out freelance work won’t get near as much attention.

Make Time for Pleasure/Rewards
Don’t overload yourself so much that you have nothing to look forward to. Still include at least one enjoyable activity for yourself each day. For me, that will be relaxing with the husband at night, and still getting in some blog reading. It’s also okay to have a bit of pleasure in food. Like the fro-yo I plan on having on my birthday. 😉 Oh, I can’t wait to recreate this…

IMGP5933

Find a Stress Outlet
This ties into the pleasure and rewards, but focuses more specifically on relieving stress. Whether it’s reading a book, chatting with a friend, watching mindless things like Bachelor Pad (*cough cough* I wouldn’t know ;)), or getting in some yoga…do it! I know my workouts won’t falter. They are my #1 stress release. Along with prayer. Having that quiet time every morning sets my tone for the day and things always seem less stressful.

Mini-Naps
Refuel quickly with a brief 10-15 minute nap. Or at least rest your eyes and your mind for brief breaks. As a teacher, I remember having to tell my students to not do marathon study sessions. Your mind works better with breaks. You will be more productive and feel better. Take time to sit down and enjoy your meal instead of eating on the go, if you can’t fit mini-breaks in otherwise.

Don’t Forget Nutrition
Eat poorly, feel poorly. When facing an overloaded schedule, you need energy. Energy comes from quality fuel. Busy times often lead people to the convenience food items. You can still eat healthy without hitting up the double cheeseburger or half gallon ice-cream. If you must do fast food, find healthier options like Subway. You can always prepare quick meals at home too. Toss together a salad or a stir-fry. They take only a small amount of prep and become a quick, one-bowl meal.

I know without a doubt these next few weeks will fly right on by. I hate feeling like I’m wishing time away though, so I’ll work on savoring my overloaded days the best I can. I do admit to looking forward to a few things though. Namely, knowing if baby is a boy or girl AND being closer to the 30 Days of Self-Love! Here are the links of ladies supporting it today!

Now, you tell me….

  • Do you ever wish time away?
  • How do you handle a busy schedule?
  • Be sure to check out the 30 Days of Self-Love challenge coming to my site in September! And don’t forget to let me know if you added my button or shared the challenge on your blog. :)

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54 Comments to “insanity – not the workout, the next two weeks”
  1. Heather says:

    You ARE a busy lady!
    I handle stress with lists upon lists, and more lists. 🙂
    Staying organized and pre-planning helps immensely!
    I also go easy on myself if I don’t get in the exercise I normally would and remind myself that the busyness will subside. 🙂

  2. tanyas daily says:

    I used to…now I learned how to enjoy each day and realize this is what I have TODAY:)

  3. I do sadly wish the time away…For instance, it’s Monday and I’m already wishing it was Friday. I even go so bad to wishing it was next September (my wedding!). To curtail this, I try to take a few minutes of my day to just appreciate what is happening around me. This usually happens in the early morning or near dusk.
    When you have a busy schedule – such as you do – I think it’s best to remember that somehow, someway, it will all get done and if it doesn’t. What really is the worst that could happen?

    • Tina says:

      I’m so guilty of wishing time away. There always seem to be things to look forward to that I get excited about.

      And you’re right! What’s the worst that could happen if things don’t get done? I always try to separate the HAVE tos from the WANT tos.

  4. No! I wish the need for sleep away! I wish there were more hours in the day to fit it all in! You are on the right track though! I need to get more organized. I have a serious problem with that and I need to be better about it. I guess recognizing it is the most important part. I hope you get some rest tonight and get to enjoy your family!

    • Tina says:

      I was able to rest with some book reading last night. But then still woke up at 4:30 am! Blah. I have the pregnancy insomnia kicking in already. My hips and lower back ache so bad by that time of night.

  5. I’m excited for you to find out the sex as well! Are you going to reveal it on the blog? Did you find out with your daughter?

    • Tina says:

      Heck yea I’ll reveal it on the blog. I’m no good at keeping secrets. LOL I even shared my positive pregnancy results the day I found out. I can’t keep it in.

      We found out with M too. I had a feeling she was a girl. And this one I have a feeling is a boy.

  6. Mandy says:

    Hello love!!! You will get through these busy times and I hope you enjoy them as well.

    You know I am crazy busy right now too. I try to remind myself to enjoy each day to the fullest, take time for myself every day and don’t forget how important certain things are to me… like my daughter and husband 🙂 As long as I remember that, I seem to get through it all okay! 🙂

    • Tina says:

      Oh yes, I know! I love at night when Peter and I can relax together and during the day when I get the chance to just giggle with M. And chances I get to chat with you. 🙂

  7. I definitely wish time away sometimes..but then I stop and remind myself that when time goes away it never comes back..and at the end of my life I’ll probably be wishing for the time I wished away! 🙂

    (Boy, that was alot of wishes in that sentence!)

  8. haha I love the title of that post – I feel the same way lately and definitely all that’s getting me through is lots of pre-planning, getting in workouts regardless of how busy I am because I know they’ll make me feel better and trying to get my full 8 hours of sleep!!

  9. Good for you for putting a plan into action to get you through. I am definitely guilty of wishing time away and it’s something I have really tried to work on this year. I am doing so much better. I am not one to easily roll with the punches and don’t enjoy stress, but again, trying to learn to deal better. It makes life so much better when you just calm down and enjoy each situation.

  10. Emily says:

    Wow, that is a busy, but exciting and fun schedule! You have some great tips for handling it though – I definitely try and eat right and exercise so that no matter what, I have a solid baseline. I also try to plan ahead as much as I can. Especially with school things, I get as much done as early as possible.

    Have a great night, lady!

  11. Mellissa says:

    I think I was born busy, I am pretty much scheduled from 5am until 10pm most days of the week. It is rare when I don’t have something going on.

    I use Google Calendar and have everything loaded in one place. I take a look at the beginning of the week and then figure out what I need to do when.

    • Tina says:

      I don’t use Google Calendar much but I always hear such good things about it. Sounds like something I could use. And you certainly are one busy lady. You amaze me! But you have lots of fun too.

  12. Busy schedules often require me writing out to-do lists. I usually don’t, but have started to watch my calendar a little more closely (currently working on a workout calendar!).

    Good luck! I know you can do it!

  13. I actually do better when I’m busy…my recent nothing-ness has killed me! I like scheduling my life to the last minute. It’s a sickness.

    • Tina says:

      I feel the same way. I like feeling productive and it puts me in a “get things done” mode when I have things to do. When I’m not busy I somehow find the time to while away the hours. Usually on the computer.

  14. homecookedem says:

    Woah girl, you are a busy lady!! Things are pretty busy here too, but I’m SO much more relaxed about it all now that I have let go of a lot of my obsessive tendencies (calorie counting, obsessive cleaning, obsessive working out, etc.). Now instead of facing a busy week with anxiety, I try to look at it as a blessing. Two websites that really help me out when I have a lot to do are: http://www.todoist.com and Google Calendar!! Looking forward to our lunch date this weekend!! 🙂

  15. Omg, I hear ya. I get so stressed out when inhale a million things coming up. I try – really hard! – to remind myself of the passage where Jesus tells us to cast all our cares on Him AND the one where He tells us not to worry about tomorrow. Those help. I also try to get ALONE in the midst of the busyness, even for just a few minutes. Alone time is extremely rejuvenating for me.
    All of your upcoming things sound fun. You’ll do great!
    And omg, you don’t know the baby’s gender?! Wooooo, so exciting. I have a feeling in my the big toe on my left foot that it’s another girlie. But that toe has been wrong before….. Oooooh, can’t wait to find out!!

    • Tina says:

      We have that passage on worry for the Sunday lesson I’m leading this week. It came at the right time for me obviously. Love that one!

  16. Inhale? Really? I meant “I have….”. Dang this iPad keyboard!!!!!

  17. When I am busy the first thing I have to do is make a list and prioritize. I end up scheduling workouts, grocery shopping, etc. I think it is great that you are planning ahead and fitting everything in.

    You mentioned a consignment sale — you are throwing one or you are going to one?

  18. oh my, that is quite the schedule! i have to just type it all out and keep looking to make sure i don’t forget anything. and get PLENTY of sleep!

    i can’t wait to find out the sex of the baby!!!

    • Tina says:

      I wish I could get better sleep. My body wakes me up every morning around 4 or 4:30 and I can’t go back to sleep. 🙁 I lay around until 5:30 hoping but it never happens.

  19. ashleigh says:

    Wow it sounds like you have a lot to do this week. Great tips on how to make it through a busy time! I feel like my life has been non stop at work and outside of work all summer, and truthfully I kind of am happy for it to stop. I am so sick of traveling on the weekends!

  20. very good tips!! can’t agree more about the eating thing. at least i know for myself, junk food only makes me feel worse, especially when you need energy for a busy schedule.

    good luck in the next week or two! with the plan in place, i know you’re gonna do awesome 🙂

  21. Lee says:

    Happy almost birthday! The frozen yogurt will help with the stressful week, for sure. Seriously though, you sound like you can definitely conquer your busy week.

    I’m excited to find out the sex of your baby. For some reason, I’m thinking girl.

  22. What great tips. I’ll have to remember them the next time my life starts to get crazy … which should be any minute now, with my day job, blogging and trying to find someone to publish my novel.

    Of course, when time is dragging at work, I find myself wishing it away. If only I could put it to use doing more productive things. (Sometimes I do blog or hit up Twitter during the down time @ the office — like now. Shh …) 😉

    • Tina says:

      I have to have mini computer breaks during the day. It somehow gives me a jolt of happiness. Especially when it is seeing comments. 🙂

  23. andi says:

    my go-to is my Google calendar and lots of green smoothies! I schedule everything in the calendar. I think I’m even going to start scheduling my workouts. it might make my life a little easier. 😉

    have you had a chance to talk with your friend who you’re the MOH for?

  24. Hi there, I love this post! I can be such a stresshead. I know that from September-December my schedule is going to be horrid because of my course and rotation in the ER. I’d like to have some sort of life and exercise regime outside of this. And see the hubs, of course. I’ve been stressing about it for the last month or so. But this weekend I just thought, “y’know what, I’ll will get through this. I have before, and I will again”. I’m so competitive with myself too but I’m trying to reign it in. I love your tips on dealing with anxiety 🙂

    • Tina says:

      That’s a great way to think. Remembering that you CAN do it and HAVE done it will hepfully keep the stress at bay. I’m sure its hard though.

  25. Shannon says:

    I am all about planning and scheduling. Once I can see on paper that everything will get done, I immediately relax. I’m glad so many of the to-dos on your list are fun things 🙂

    Today is the day I am goingto figure out how to put your reflection button on my blog. I just have to remember how to do it…

  26. I get stressed out so easily….it’s something that I need to work on!

  27. It’s great you have a plan. Those are great tips! I really try not to wish time away, especially in the summer!

  28. Those tips are spot-on. I especially love the first two. When I have a busy schedule, it’s easy to convince myself that it *has* to be pure dread! But setting time aside each day for moments of pleasure and stress relief is more than just acceptable…it’s a necessity!

    I would add to that list: compartmentalize. While I’m good at multi-tasking, it also leaves me feeling a million times more stressed out. Doing one thing at a time is key for me when I have a lot on my plate!

    • Tina says:

      Ohhh…good tip! I love multi-tasking on some things, but I know focusing on specific tasks at hand is way important.

  29. Holly says:

    Oh my goodness….you DO have a lot coming up! But that is great that so much of it is GOOD stuff – your birthday and finding out the sex of the baby, especially!

    It’s funny because even though I thrive on busy schedules and actually prefer it, I tend to get overwhelmed if there are things on my schedule that I’m not so much looking forward to (you’re in a wedding party right now, too, so you know what I mean when showers/bachelorette parties are a little daunting!). For YEARS I’ve used food as a coping mechanism to distract myself from thinking about those things, but I am really working on telling myself repeatedly that it WILL be okay!

  30. Oh you do sound like a busy little bee! I love all your tips though! Especially the one about your nutrition. It’s so true! If you eat poorly, you WILL feel poorly! love it!

  31. Katie H says:

    Ohhh congratulations!!! 🙂 I didn’t realize you were expecting, although I had an inkling when you said in your last post that you couldn’t use certain items for six months. Hooray! 🙂

    Typically I don’t wish time away but, to be honest, I have definitely being doing that since my husband left for Afghanistan. This summer has flown by and I am so grateful. Now I just need May to hurry up and get here!

    I handle a busy schedule with google calendar, a planner and a task list on my smart phone. Probably overkill but it seems to work :p

    • Tina says:

      Thanks! 🙂

      I think I would be wishing time away a LOT if my husband was gone for that long. Especially to Afghanistan. I’ll be sure to say some prayers for him and you. And a huge thanks to him for doing what he does and to you for being the woman behind him. 🙂

  32. Nichole says:

    I am in love with teauxdeaux.com right now. Your tips are key to sanity during busy times.

    I could use a major nap right now!

  33. Wow you’ve got some busy days coming ahead, girlie! Sounds like your plan of action is a no-fail though. Planning is hugely key! Good luck woman!:)

  34. I totally need to do a better job with planning out my days! Google calendar, here I come!!

  35. Monique says:

    I just love your blog, so glad I found it 🙂

  36. WOW, you’ve got a busy week ahead! YAY for August birthdays though! I used to use a paper planner to organize myself, but during the past year I’ve been using Google Calendar as my main time management tool. However, once I start working I think I’ll be back to the paper method because I won’t be bringing my Macbook to work like I did for university classes. I think the part that you mentioned about doing little things you enjoy every day is super important. We all need a break if we’re going to keep moving through our to-do lists!
    Great post Tina, you’re going to have a great week! 🙂

  37. Allison says:

    Wowee, you’re going to be one busy woman! Happy early Birthday! Mine is this Thursday, and you betcha I’ll be grabbing some froyo too 🙂 Those tips are great and I definitely needed to read them with the school stress that’s coming my way. Oh, and I’m glad I’m not the only one that enjoys unwinding with mindless television…aka “the bachelor pad” shhh! 😉

    • Tina says:

      Happy early bday to you! And mindless tv = good stuff to me. I think enough during the day. My mind needs veg time too. LOL

  38. I wish I could be better about sleep! I regularly get around 7, but I’d love to get myself back up to 8 hours!

  39. […] Tuesday! Did you all make it through Monday okay? I did and now it’s time to get my busy schedule kicked off. I already applied some of the tips I use to keep sane during busy times. Starting with […]

  40. Mac says:

    Good luck with everything! You’re definitely on the right track with all your tips!

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