Who among us hasn't looked at the calendar at some point and said, "This is crazy! How did I wind up with so much to do in so little time?"
Janet Periat has been there. Janet's a fine writer and a neat person, too. And she recently wrote a column for CoastViews Magazine (which I edit) that I knew I wanted to feature here. If you relate to what Janet is saying, please go read the whole column; I've had to leave out some choice anecdotes in this excerpt.
As I write this, it is three days after Christmas. I woke up this morning still exhausted from the holiday onslaught, with few brain cells left. First thing I did was spill hummingbird food all down my front and flip out — in the front yard no less. I finally dragged myself inside so I could yell without censoring myself. While I knew that the level of anger I was experiencing was totally disproportionate to the severity of the mishap, I was so tired, all I could do was watch myself freak out. ...Note: Longer than usual extract used with permission of CoastViews.
Why do I think I can do more than I can? Why do I set myself up like this? Why do I believe that if I just try a little harder, I can get it all done? ...
As I look back at my plans for the last four months, they don’t look that crazy. All I had to do was serve as master of ceremonies for the Pescadero Arts and Fun Festival in late August; go on two back-to-back vacations in September (dumbest idea EVER, so tired we couldn’t enjoy the second); host a Halloween party for 20; host a two-week in-law attack — I mean, visit — over Thanksgiving; get oral surgery; shop, clean and decorate for Christmas; host a party for 17 at my house on Christmas Eve; clean up the party on Christmas Day and fix a special Christmas dinner for my sister and husband. Oh, and also complete the final edits on two books — and publish them — and write my columns while working on two new novels. Plus I started a new diet and exercise regimen in July. ...
I think my problem is two-fold: a hefty dose of denial regarding my abilities, coupled with the unplanned. I didn’t plan on rats chewing through the wires on my car and stranding me at home for a week in October. I didn’t plan on being sick for the remaining three weeks of October. Ditto on the toe surgery I needed two days after my oral surgery. ...
So as I head into the new year, I am going to ... write “Plan for the Unplanned” on every page. When I receive an invitation or make a date, I’ll look at my calendar closely. I won’t merely look at the day of the event; I’ll look at the entire month before and afterwards.
6 comments:
Hi Jeri,
Just wanted to let you know how much I appreciated your sharing this and acknowledging the downside of a fully booked dancecard. I am in the process of redoing my website and in the process of transitioning blog entries found one from May 2010 on the power of whitespace (i.e. the importance of leaving yourself unscheduled time in your calendar.) It was a good for me to see that entry and yours today. In this day and age we can't be reminded of this enough.
Best,
Andrea
LOVE Janet's column! At one time in my life I set a limit of four events / meetings per day. About 10 years later I revised that to three. Have never been good about scheduling the planning and/or production time -- isn't that what the hours between 11 pm and 4 am are for??? Am thinking I should revise the daily limit again to 2 and leave that white space!! Appreciated the humor with which this important message was delivered!
Apropos tweet from Google's Matt Cutts today: "Somehow I have 13 meetings on Monday. I fear I have angered the meeting gods. Should I sacrifice a day planner?"
I've been enjoying the blog for some time now....and am delighted at this guest column from a local (to me) source! (I live in La Honda, not far from Pescadero. Just above the house Dan Periat built.) Timely thoughts too, which can probably be revisited periodically by most everyone.
Carolyn, it's always fun to hear from someone who lives to me — I'm in Half Moon Bay. Thanks for commenting! I'm so glad you're enjoying my blog.
Andrea and Nana, I'm glad to hear this column resonated with both of you. I think lots of us can use the reminder about leaving some white space.
I've been remiss in commenting, but not in reading, Jeri!
This post made me think of one of my pet peeves which, I regret to say, I have observed more often in women than in men: the tendency to think that being over-booked is somehow an indication of one's worth. Too often I've heard someone say "I'm crazed" or "crazy busy" as if they were bragging. It's a peculiar phenomenon of the times, I guess, but "crazed" is not something I think of as admirable -- or healthy!
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