So Much to Do, So Little Time

There’s a sign on my boss’ office door that I really like. I like it because nothing can be further from the truth.

It states, "God put me on this Earth to accomplish a certain amount of things. Right now, I’m so far behind, I will never die."

Well, I know how she feels because I am right there with her, let me tell you.

You know that constant sense of low-grade panic? More than likely, it’s because of the things that needed to get done, but didn’t. As today’s busy people, we have a ton of stuff on our plates to do every day.

Take me, for example. Between my full-time job as a lab tech, my part-time job in the local mall, and a weekend/after hour’s freelance writer and editor, my days and weeks seem to just fly by. There’s never enough time in one day to do everything that I want to do like writing this short column, for example.

While writing this on Sunday night, I had a nagging thought in my head that my cat desperately needs a flea bath, that there was an expert on Italian art glass whom I needed to interview for an article, and in addition, I needed to send in a book review that was due quite soon. But, of course, I hadn’t even started to read the book in question.

Speaking of books, I happen to own a wonderful library full of those little treasures. Heck, I invest a lot of the money that I earn (well, at least the part that doesn’t go toward paying the bills) into books. Barnes & Noble loves me. It’s a good thing that my employer gives me a discount card on Barnes & Noble purchases, because I use it a lot. (Jealous? Tee hee, one of the perks of my job).

Subjects in my personal book collection range from wildlife, writing, and metaphysical subjects, to novels, Shakespeare collections, you name it. What frustrates me is that I don’t have enough time to read them all. Anymore, sitting in my living room with a cup of green tea and a good book is a luxury. Well, like my wise hubby says, we can only take it one day at a time.

Sometimes I think that it’s wonderful that my husband and I don’t have kids. I’m sure that children are wonderful, and they are a blessing in their own way, there’s no question. But when I visit my friends and acquaintances that have kids, it is plain to see that they hardly have time for themselves and their own lives. That doesn’t even include the bills that double, even triple when you have kids, and later, when your offspring grows up, your trouble really starts then! Children will take all your money, time, and patience. I really do not see how any parent can catch up on life at all!

But they can, and they do, and that’s something I admire. Still to those meddlesome relatives at family get-togethers, I say no, thanks, we still don’t have or want any children. We will stick to our multitude of pets, or ‘money pits’, as my hubby calls them.

Now let’s take a look at the flip side of the workaholic’s coin.

"You can’t ever relax," is my hubby’s favorite gripe.

Well, he’s right. There’s nothing wrong with working a lot and doing the stuff that gets us ahead and makes us happy. But it’s just as important to practice relaxation, if we want to recharge, maintain an efficient pace, and accomplish our goals. So, workaholics schedule some relaxation time in your busy schedules and relax. Think of it as work if nothing else. It helps us get more done later, believe me.