More than I can chew.

[Danno77]

You ever do that? Been feeling like I've got too much going on all at once. Need to downsize EVERYTHING and my employment seems to be getting in the way of doing what needs to be done. But alas, without the paycheck, everything screeches to a halt, so it's a necessary evil.

Happens just about every spring, relief is in sight (summer break), but just as soon as I have the time to do everything, it will be 120*F in the shade, or something will suck my funding dry.

Thanks for reading my complaints. Carry on.

 

[Backwoods Savage]

Common complaint Danno. Just have to suck it up and carry on.

 

[My Oslo heats my home]

Big time agree! I work 2 jobs and try to manage household duties. That would include cutting and splitting my 2014-15 supply. Problem is I enjoy the wood work but not necessarily 1 of my 2 paying jobs. You find the time and hope to keep the boat from rocking

 

[Danno77]

Yeah, I was pretty whiny when I wrote that. Wasn't feeling well physically/digestively (with a massive headache), and this week is a taper week in my Triathlon training. Tapering is this weird thing where you train super hard for weeks on end and then in order to get your body ready for a race you slack way back (taper) on the training. It messes with your mind, I tell you.

Anyway, the triathlon training is part of my problem because it takes so much time, but without the athletic endeavors I get all out of whack, it messes with my Chi or something, I dunno.

I feel better now because I got home and took an excedrine, stacked some firewood, then had a couple of beers.

 

[semipro]

I feel better now because I got home and took an excedrine, stacked some firewood, then had a couple of beers.

My kind of training!

 

[Locust Post]

Yep...Spring fever. I just told the wife about a week and a half ago Honey I just feel overwhelmed right now with everything I need to do. Talked to my neighbor on the weekend and he said he just had a moment like that a few days prior.

 

[Adios Pantalones]

I need more hours in the day. I was very lucky to be able to go down to part time at my day job, and there's still not enough time.

Couldn't be much happier, though- especially kuzz I don't have to run/swim/bike anywhere in a hurry

 

[lukem]

Coaching one baseball team, kids on 2 others. A lot of travel for work coming up. A lot of yard/garden work right now. I enjoy it all, but when it all hits at once it can feel overwhelming at times.

 

[Eatonpcat]

Same boat here, I look outside and think...Have to trim those trees, the grass needs cut, have to get gravel for the driveway...etc. Plus I am working on the largest project my company has ever had (fast track of course)!

 

[semipro]

I rarely buy these types of books but bought this one:
http://www.amazon.com/Getting-Things-Done-Stress-Free-Productivity/dp/0142000280

The author posits that we spend so much time worrying about getting things done that we stress ourselves out and waste valuable energy that could be better spent actually getting things done. He suggests that if instead of constantly going through the things you want to do in your head that you record them and track them somehow.
I had pretty much done this before with work tasks but not personal tasks. Per his recommendation I'm getting better about tracking everything I want to do whether business or personal and it has really reduced my stress levels.

 

[Adios Pantalones]

Agreed, semi
Just make a list and check them off. I find that many items are shorter than expected. When estimating time on a project, if it's broken into too many pieces then one always over estimates the schedule as each item is given a minimum time that may be unreasonable. "an hour for this" "an hour for that" usually means 20 mins each.

 

[Danno77]

I get that, but the things on my list cant be checked off, they are maintenance if that makes sense. Things that have to be done over and over and over and then you die, lol.

 

[Adios Pantalones]

I get that, but the things on my list cant be checked off, they are maintenance if that makes sense. Things that have to be done over and over and over and then you die, lol.

Yup. This goes along with- the more things you own, the more they own you. I love tools, but I don't have enough time to change the oil in one damn more thing.

 

[nate379]

I retired about 2 months ago and since then I've been putting in 16+ hr days everyday getting stuff done (and loving every minute of it!). I had a To Do list that has years worth of stuff on there, finally starting to get it knocked down!


Grass needs cut?! I just raked my yard yesterday, the snow is finally all melted and it's mostly dry.

 

[PapaDave]

the more things you own, the more they own you

Oh man, AP. Ding, ding, ding.
We got ourselves a winner.
I've been trying to downsize for several years.
Just the everyday stuff gets to be too much sometimes. Have some coffee, take a walk, get a good nights sleep, then get back at it as you can.
It'll be there tomorrow. If it's not, then we're probably dead, and it's a non issue.

 

[fishingpol]

No doubt, I need more time. It first starts for me by spending a little less time on the net, unless I am looking for instructions or ideas. Life is too short and there is so much to learn in that finite time.


Instead of spending ridiculous amounts of time becoming proficient at a task, I am quite pleased knowing just enough to be dangerous productive.

I swear my friend would purposely screw up home repairs to the point that it would aggravate me and I end up fixing it for him. My rates are reasonable though. A few beers.

 

[Flatbedford]

Same here. Not limited to any time of the year either. I was expecting things to slack off a bit at work now, but now it looks like that is not gonna happen. I waited since September for this time that isn't gonna happen. I know I can't keep this up for another 20 years!

 

[Paulywalnut]

You know we try to look at others and wonder how they do it. Remember that we do as much as the rest of them
and we also heat are homes for practically free. That right there is why we get or at least feel burnt ( no pun) out! Got to love it though.

 

[firebroad]

Story of my life. "The hurry'der I go, the behinder I get"!
Seems like the more I simplify, the more time it takes for me to do it. Guess it is just a hazard of growing old. People who tell me that they would be bored when they retire astound me. I've had a backlog of things to do that has been accumulating for over twenty years.

 

[Flatbedford]

I don't think I will ever have time to be bored.... unless I am at work.

 

[ScotO]

I'm in the same boat as you guys/gals....trust me.
I've been working more-or-less NONSTOP on this house overhaul for almost 7 years, with this living room being the milestone I've been yearning for. But you have the kids' sports like basketball, baseball, etc....they you have the lawn mowing, tree cutting (side job on top of my full time job), the full time job, chores around the house, etc, etc.....
Just finding time for 'myself' and my wife (not to sound selfish, either, but you NEED some of that to keep your sanity) is almost impossible. And I want to make time for my three kids.....

I gave up my cycling, my weightlifting, a lot of my hunting and fishing, tinkering with my antique Willys Overland wagon, etc...just so I could make time for the things that need done. Let me tell you, I'd love to have just ONE of those hobbies back.....just a single one of them......

 

[Locust Post]

I'm in the same boat as you guys/gals....trust me.
I've been working more-or-less NONSTOP on this house overhaul for almost 7 years, with this living room being the milestone I've been yearning for. But you have the kids' sports like basketball, baseball, etc....they you have the lawn mowing, tree cutting (side job on top of my full time job), the full time job, chores around the house, etc, etc.....
Just finding time for 'myself' and my wife (not to sound selfish, either, but you NEED some of that to keep your sanity) is almost impossible. And I want to make time for my three kids.....

I gave up my cycling, my weightlifting, a lot of my hunting and fishing, tinkering with my antique Willys Overland wagon, etc...just so I could make time for the things that need done. Let me tell you, I'd love to have just ONE of those hobbies back.....just a single one of them......

This my friend is one of the most important, all kidding aside. You have to be dligent and intentional to put a date night on the calendar a minimum of once a month. If not the kids grow up and you feel like who is this my roommate...a stranger.

 

[Paulywalnut]

I must be a little older than you guys, but it all comes back around. My 3 kids are raised married and on their own.
Well really never completely on their own, which to me is good. Now they bring their little ones here. I have plenty of
time to ride them on the tractor ,they help stack wood. Real close knit stuff. You all will see. Just keep the wife happy.
That alone makes most everything else run smoothly

 

[webbie]

I get that, but the things on my list cant be checked off, they are maintenance if that makes sense. Things that have to be done over and over and over and then you die, lol.

On Walden Pond. Even Thoreau couldn't stay there!

 

[firefighterjake]

A man much, much wiser than me once said . . . and I paraphrase here . . . when you are on your death bed it doesn't matter so much what you did for work, what chores were left unfinished or what you did for a hobby . . . or even (believe it or not) how much wood you have in your woodshed . . . what matters most is your family and friends since chances are it will not be your co-workers at your bedside . . . or those folks who do the same hobbies with you . . . or even us hearth.com members -- it will be your friends and family members.

Keep this in mind when prioritizing what you need or want to do with the short time we have in this life . . .