I do a lot of things and I can do a lot of them well. Sometimes I just think I can do it all. I end up calculating my day, using every spare minute, to fit stuff in. I tended to rush a lot. I'm trying to learn how to slow down and realize it's ok to not get stuff done.
The past few years, as my kids have gotten older (and busier), I've had to stop pursuing a lot of my hobbies, due to lack of time. I try to squeeze stuff in when I find a spare minute (which is totally rare). Between my two jobs, my husbands work, the five kids schedules, laundry, dishes, and dinner, I have no time.
Things I will not give up are working out, making dessert, going to church on Sunday, educating myself to be better at my jobs, and spending time with my family. Things I have to do sparingly, sew, make new foods, crafts, and organize my house.
The main thing that I just don't care about, but it eats away at me, is my house. I have a big house and it's a nice house, but every damn flat surface is covered with stuff. I find I just don't care about dedicating the time necessary to get rid of all the stuff and make it look welcoming, calm, and neat. When people come over (cable guy today), I always scuffle around, trying to recycle all the random papers the kids left lying around, or put away the Christmas sign that's been lying on the floor collecting dust for a month because I couldn't be bothered to take it to the basement.
My house stresses me out. There is plenty of space to put stuff away, yet, I, as one person, cannot be constantly responsible for putting away the stuff of 7 people. I find myself in a panic if someone is coming over that they are going to thing I'm a slob. Mind you, my house is not dirty, there is just a lot of random stuff. Like I said, I have a lot of hobbies, and I know I'll probably never do many of them again- but given my lack of time, I just don't have enough time to spend sorting, recycling, good willing, etc.
The scary thing to me is that I probably do go to good will about every other week with three bags. I put all my kids off season clothes in bins in the storage room in the basement, I have about 12 bins full of stuff to sell at a consignment sale, and I always put my holiday decor away in bins too. So, what's all the junk laying around my house? Crafts, work books, coloring books, toys, puzzles, old homeschool stuff, tiny pieces, games, art supplies, fabric- yes a lot of it's my kids and they definitely don't need it all. Envision five kids x five birthdays, Christmas, and other holidays where it seems to be customary to don them with cheap thrills to last a minute and burden me for years.
I have a few boxes that are not even unpacked from when I moved here almost six years ago. A lot of the stuff I have, I have not used since I've lived here. One issue is I will unpack a box, or start cleaning a room and then I get distracted and have to stop to go make dinner, help with homework, break up a fight, police a cell phone, or go to work. The next thing I know, my five year old tornado daughter is into everything and I'm back to square one.
I have tried lots of different things, 15 minutes per day until a room is completely organized, move everything out of a room and put it back in, get all the organization containers, have like three organization books, and even lately, just trying to prioritize and focus on which room is most important to me to have clean and welcoming. I can't decide between my office, since I spend time working in there, my bedroom, since that's supposed to be where I relax, or my front room because that is what I see whenever I enter my house.
I have made a lot of progress over the years, but not as much as I would hope. Sometimes when I walk into my friends' houses, I get jealous, like seriously, how do they do it? I even have a cleaning lady come once a month (hence the not dirty part). However, seriously, I'm not sure I'd know what to do if everything was put away and all surfaces were clear. I am trying to enjoy my kids being young and it's who they/we are, but I don't know how all of you with kids do it. I give you mad props.
In the same aspect, I know many people have commented to me about how in shape I am, or that I can sew, or bake cupcakes from scratch. I know I can't do everything--so I try not to feel bad about not living in a Pinterest type home-- because I know I'm spending my free time differently than others.
We all have our things we just decide aren't that important. Stop beating yourself up about things that you never get to. There are only so many waking minutes in a day, choose to spend your free time doing things that make you happy and better. If something isn't getting done that stresses you out, ask someone to help you, or maybe spend one day devoting all of your time to it, so you can cross it off your list and be done with it.
The thing I am not good at is decorating my house and keeping it clutter free. I can't do everything and I'm ok with it and so should you.
