I’m almost…..there….keep….moving………a few more……steps……
No, I’m not reliving the half marathon I just ran. I’m talking about end-of-school activities that keep piling on and threaten my sanity.
This week is jam-packed with spring musical extravaganzas, an art fair, school garage sale, softball games and soccer practices, flute lessons and appointments. I must organize the complicated driving schedules and ensure that everybody gets to their events on time, with appropriate clothes (How many loads of laundry does it take to keep a family of six in appropriate clothes for multiple, unrelated events? Don’t ask.) and necessary accoutrements in hand (bats, balls, gloves, water bottles, performance clothes, artwork for the art fair….).
Mixed in with the kids’ activities are my own obligations (writing, at least minimal housework, why not throw in a birthday party?). Support my friends during Ben’s crisis.
Oh, and we have a guest.
At some point, we’re supposed to eat, right? Maybe take a shower?
What works for me during outrageously busy times like this is to write out my detailed daily plan the night before or as early as possible the day of.
- Think it through carefully and thoroughly.
- Write out the master plan for that day in as much detail as necessary so that I don’t have to constantly be thinking about what I might be forgetting (i.e., include what I need to pack as part of the plan: ”check softball bag for glove and water bottle, put in van, leave at 2:20″)
- Let go of worry and follow the plan.
- Do the next thing.
I know that some people always do this–I guess they live in a constant state of “outrageously busy” and must. But I generally live more simply than this and can follow my normal planner (which seems detailed enough ordinarily) without the extra step of writing out the detailed day. It’s during these high-pressured weeks that I need to get it all down and follow it.
And when I take the time to write it down in detail, the key to not falling apart is to trust the plan and follow that last point:
Do the next thing.
When it’s all done in a few weeks, the other thing that really works for me is to avoid getting that busy in the first place. Whenever possible, I try to Just Say No to lots of things (even tempting opportunities–even good things can fill up our schedules too much), slow down and simplify our schedules.
In the meantime, Do the next thing.
** Castile Soap update: (FiddleDeeDee, this is partly for you) I owe it to you to let you know that I did get two blemishes during this stressful season of life, in spite of my use of Castile Soap. I still think it has kept them at bay, however. These are the first two I’ve had in months.
Please visit Rocks in My Dryer for more great ideas!
My previous Works-For-Me-Wednesday Ideas:
Projects Contained and Portable
Castile Soap for a Simpler Life (and blemish-free face)
Post-It Annotation for Library Books
Everyday Mom-Mobile Essentials & Travel Notebooks
Make the Most of Internet Lag Time
Storing Dishes: How Low Can You Go?
Let It Snow, Let Us Slow (Crockpot Steel-Cut Oatmeal)
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May 9, 2007 at 9:29 am
littlebabyaidan
Hi! I am trying to find and add as many mommies as I can. I just had my first child!
May 9, 2007 at 11:01 am
Phil
I know whereof you speak, Ann, albeit from a dad-view. Sometimes I think May and June are worse than Christmas & New Years! At least the weather’s more cooperative this time of year.
These are well-chosen words today – thanks. Reminds me of the old saw. My family is tired of hearing me say it but I might be able to say it here just this once.
How do you eat an elephant?
One – bite – at – a – time.
IF you like elephant.
Like the ol’ contry preacher said:
And now dear friends, we come to my favorite verse. Do you see it there? “And it came to pass…” Friends, it didn’t come to stay! Lord, no, it came to pass!
Hang in there.
Phil—
May 9, 2007 at 3:43 pm
Karen Hossink
A written detailed plan. I think I might need to try this!
Or is the busy year end just designed to make us thankful for summer and the lack of school projects, activities, and ice cream socials. Yes, the kids will be home full time and probably complaining that they’re bored, but at least we won’t have looming deadlines and lists of projects, right?
I like Phil’s idea…It came to pass!
May 11, 2007 at 9:16 pm
annkroeker
Phil: Thanks for your kind, pastoral encouragement during my crazy-hectic days. Your elephant story reminded me of Anne Lamott’s book about writing entitled _Bird by Bird_. I’m going from memory here, but I recall that Lamott refers to her dad’s advice to her brother when he was overwhelmed with a school assignment to do a bird report. The boy couldn’t figure out where to begin, where to focus, what to do, and found himself panicked and stuck. “How am I going to do this, Dad?” Dad wisely answered, “Bird by bird, son. Bird by bird.”
Do the next thing. One bite at a time. Bird by bird.
Karen: I *love* summer! And I’ll take boredom over busy any day.
May 16, 2007 at 11:14 pm
Works-for-my-Friend-Wednesday « Ann Kroeker
[...] When Life Is Crazy-Busy, Do the Next Thing [...]
April 11, 2008 at 10:49 am
Ann
Does anyone have a copy of the poem, “Do The Next Thing?”—I’m searching for it for a friend who just got diagnosed with cancer.
Thanks,
Ann