Work continues to take over my life. Yesterday I spoke on the telephone with my mum for 3 hours which was exhausting. She said everything that made sense like ‘why are you wasting your life’ and ‘you will make yourself ill with all that work’ and ‘you will not wish that you had worked more on your deathbed’ and yet I seem to be incapable of change. It is tied up with my goal of getting debt free, and it is the type of work that you have to throw yourself in to. But at the same time, friends and family are the most important thing. On Tuesday I had an operation and because I am often out of touch, with the exception of one person, no-one wished me luck or contacted me to see how I am. Including my boss (who did know where I was) which made me very sad and confused and I saw what a pointless life I lead. 3 weeks ago

I have had to get in touch with people to invite them to the wedding, even though months and sometimes years have gone by since we last spoke. I am determined to keep this up even after the wedding! 13 months ago

I had a wonderful lunch with my family last Sunday, even though I was jet lagged and exhausted from work. But I have not called them since, because my head is always preoccupied with work. I am going a bit crazy…I just found out that my mum and dad both have some health problems. they are getting old and vulnerable, and my priorities are all wrong. Why is it not possible to work without it consuming my whole life? I need to find a way to sort this situation out. 15 months ago

I spent a lovely New Year at my sisters. We had our nails done, went to the cinema along with our partners and my parents to see New Years Eve, and watched Hootenanny to see in the New Year with food and wine. I cried when I left this morning. I wish that my work schedule would die down and I could see more of my family 17 months ago

I have been awful at keeping in touch with friends and family since I started back at work again. Tomorrow however we are going to stay at my sisters, and my parents will be there. My mum sister and I are going to get our nails done in the afternoon, then we might go to the cinema before a great evening in with everyone. Really looking forward to it :-) 17 months ago

I have been doing really well on this goal recently, and ever since I have had more free time. It has made a real difference to spend lots of quality time with my family. I think that I need to keep an up to date address book because it is difficult to keep a track with Facebook, Linked In, various different e-mail accounts etc. I need to have a database of some kind to keep up with my friends and family and stop wasting time on so called ‘SOCIAL’ networking which is about as social as sitting indoors staring at a computer screen. Boo 22 months ago

I had the greatest, and very social, weekend. On Thursday night we went to see my stepson in a show, Friday night we went to London to stay with a friend and had a great night out. Saturday we went to my sisters, where my other sister and her boyfriend were staying. We went out for Mexican and then on Sunday (today) went to my sisters boyfriends parents for a barbeque. They were really lovely people and I felt really happy just being around family and meeting new people several days in a row.
Life is better when I am being sociable! 23 months ago