get more done

I never feel like I have enough time to get things done, but if I’m more realistic about how long things actually take (a call to the pediatrician—two minutes tops, not the 15 or 20 I think I need), maybe more will get done. I tried thinking this way today and got that overdue call to the pediatrician in as well as mailing some of the Christmas cards.

Today I cleaned out the fridge, freezer, and the chest freezer in the basement. Let’s not even think about discussing how much frozen chicken I found. I tossed everything past its expiration date and organized the shelves in the fridge so all of the leftovers fit onto one shelf. I also weeded through the cupboard that has all of my vases and candle holders and put a box of them down in the basement for the next tag sale.

I cleaned out the little one’s closet today. That was a biggie. Not much to throw away, but things to pack away, a big bag of outgrown clothes for Goodwill, and a box of nicer outgrown clothes for the consignment shop. There’s a lot of open space in there now! I also cleaned out the cupboard that has all of my candles in it. I found one from my wedding (1999), one from a friend’s wedding (1996), and one from a friend’s birthday bash (2002). Clearly it was time for that to get hoed out.

Today I did two mending projects on the little one’s stuffed animals. It didn’t take too long even though I had to stop half way through to try to let my eye rest. It’s been hanging over my head for months, so I feel really good about getting this done.

I’ve worked hard today to get all of the Christmas decorations put away. It’s been long and slow but I’m getting there. Why does it take so much longer to put them away than it does to put them out?

Worked hard today—got all of the garden plants taken out for the winter, did two loads of laundry (dried out on the line, even!), took the little ones to the apple orchard (got pumpkins, too), and cleaned a large swath of the kitchen counter. Now to download pictures and do plans for work for next week before I fall asleep….

I’m doing better with this lately. I haven’t been wasting as much time online or sitting on the couch. It probably helps it’s one of the most hectic times of year at work and I’m bringing huge piles of it home to do every night right now.

Just spent a week with geographically distant relatives. Am I possibly related to them? They are constantly doing things, especially house projects. Me, on the other hand, I have 10 squares of grey paint in my bathroom that have been there since Feb., waiting for me to choose a color, fix the mold problems, and actually paint. I suspect that would have been a week long project for any other them, if that.