I realize that this post may put everyone over the edge... any likability (is that a word?) I may have had will surely be in question... it will only work if you promise to be honest. Okay, so, find a piece of chocolate, put your left finger on the chocolate and raise your right hand, "I, _____ promise that I will not ignore that guilty tug that I sometimes feel when I'm not being honest with myself (you know... it's that feeling that you used to get when you lied to your mom) and will try to still like the Pretty Organizer for all of her well meaning good qualities.
Feel guilt yet? Okay... well this is one that I have to admit I've been working on. It's important to identify what the time wasters in your life are. For many of us blogging ladies... it's the computer. Hate me. You know it is! Do we really need to keep it booted up all day and check it 12 times a day (or more) just to see if we have 1 more comment? Really, don't you think it would be more exciting to boot up that baby and see how many comments have accumulated?
Whether your time wasters are your computer, TV, the telephone, shopping when you don't have to, or just plain ole not getting out of bed in the morning, they make a huge dent in a day. If you manage your time wasters, you'll have more time to waste and will be more happy seeing what got done at the end of the day. 
Oprah doesn't fold your laundry (though you can watch Oprah while you're folding laundry)... and those Soap Operas (I know, I'm such a prude and you'll all unfollow me now..) well, ladies they're full of stuff that we all shouldn't be watching anyhow... go take a little time and clean up the house, get a shower and put some lipstick on for your hubby and create those great fantastic scenes in real life!
Confession: I don't watch TV. Period... not even the news. (I'm a lot happier too! I get my news from the Internet.) Since I got myself out of the habit (it really is a habit), there isn't much interesting enough for me to sit down and watch. I do let myself relax on the weekend with hubby or kids to watch a movie.I also block time out to blog and check my email. I realize that this is my current weakness so I've been aggressive keep myself in check. I check emails in the morning, once while kiddos are napping and before I go to bed. I decided that I never wanted my kids seeing me glued to the computer screen. They know I blog but I don't give them many opportunities to question whether blogging or they come first.
Now, I hope I haven't offended all you 24 watchers! As long as you get things done and you have time, by all means watch your shows! Just always remember that to live life in balance depends upon how you balance your priorities! That's the way to run a Pretty Organized Palace!
What are your time wasters?
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19 comments:
Mmm, good point!!! Mine is the computer for sure... blog and facebook mostly. Sometimes internet TV, which defeats the purpose of us not having TV in our home!
And... maybe volunteering? I don't have kids yet, so I am purposeful about getting involved in the community while I have all of this time to spare, but I find myself frazzled and sometimes not home enough during the day to get beds made, dishes done, bathrooms cleaned. Thanks for bringing up the timewasters!
Thank you for the reminder! Computer for me! Another is shopping when I don't need to. Some days I just load up everyone and head out to get one thing that we "need"! We end up being out all day, stopping just one more place. I know I'm not fooling myself. I just want to get out and shop!!!!
No TV here.
It is INTERNET that have strong hold on me. I'm ashamed of it. Computer itself is not a problem... but INTERNET where I keep up with blogs and Google reader etc. That's my adult converstation for me. I need to be more strict with myself regarding Internet because my children are growing up way too fast! Not to mention not fulfilling my dearest's love language (mainly service) too well and he is truly my dearest.
INTERNET!
Most definitely Internet. We don't watch TV either (but we do watch movies). I actually get lots of stuff done while "watching" movies as I hate sitting still through them. LOL! (hubby hates watching movies with me!)
Great post and great reminder!
This is all so true! We used to watch WAY too much TV, especially me since I'm home all day. So we cancelled cable. Now I find myself spending more time on the internet, but for some reason it's easier for me to keep this one in check. With that said, I need to close this laptop and get to work on some laundry!
Computer for sure. I spend a lot of time thinking I am SOOO busy I can't get anything done and now have lately been realizing busy doesn't equal productive! Dang computer and Facebook! I didn't care about most of my 142 Facebook friends a few months ago...why do I care now?!? The last few days I have been experimenting with a Sign taped to my monitor that say "NO COMPUTER" and every time I walk by it while putting away laundry or whatever I chant to myself "Right...No Computer...look how much laundry I just put away" and feel so much better!
My husband has told me about a software industry guy who has written articles about inboxes and all the flood of info and how best to manage it. Checking email only a couple times per day instead of constantly is one of the theories. I am trying...
oh... definately blogging! but i also have realized it is taking up too much of my time, so i do the same thing. check it in the morning while drinking my coffee, and at lunch time. i usually don't have time at night. that's family time. we don't have tv either, and it is the best thing we ever did! :)
Yeah, me too --computer! That facebook is sooo cool and I just discovered it, but it's like a black hole for my time. All of a sudden an hour is gone, or two....
hmmm.. let's see. I would say that my biggest time waster is sleeping - on the weekends especially. I need my beuaty rest though :)!
Reading, I don't watch TV much anymore (except morning cartoons). But I can waste hours reading favorite books.
i didn't even read this post cause i could see by the pictures that we would have to stop being friends because i am a MAJOR time waster. but i did buy 10 baskets today per your suggestion on your other post (that i was happy to read) i'm ready to let my family put their own crap away. thanks!
You make a good point. I know I spend too much time on the computer. I work part-time from home so I have to be online for work, but I find myself blog hopping and checking email between actually working. I could be doing other more important things during those times. Sigh.
Good points! I won't unfollow you because it is true. There are so many things we do that simply waste time! Not that there is anything inherently wrong with these things, it is just that they take time AWAY from things that are ultimately more fulfilling in life!
Blogging is great, online friendships are great, but I said this at Blissdom and I will continue to say it: my blog success is NOT my top priority. Real life is my priority. My blog helps my life in a lot of ways, but I can't focus on it and devote too much time to its success, otherwise I would be doing as you said, checking every five minutes to see if I have a comment, or putting my stats on a spreadsheet so I can analyze them. I just can't spend my life that way or I will regret it.
Same with TV. I enjoy it. It is a fun break. But, how much time can I devote to it? Reality is, I rarely watch TV any more. I simply have things that mean more to me that would get nudged out if I had a bunch of shows I had to watch during the week.
But, I do need a break sometimes and I don't feel like every moment has to be perfectly accounted for. Sometimes, I just want to veg out in front of the TV!
Sigh. It is hard to keep it all balanced and know WHERE to spend our time!!!
Great post! Keep up the good work!
I have several time wasters. One is fb? (which is new...facebook.) The other is the internet and looking for furniture...that is a big time waster. Finally the last is watching HGTV. I'm addicted to that channel. I put a challenge out of my blog about going electronically free on President's Day...that includes the cell phones as well. No one took the bait...I'll let you know if I survived.
As soon as I read your title I had "BLOG, BLOG, BLOG" going through my head. I like the idea of blocking out certain times.
I completely agree with you about TV - I've only watched a bit of the bushfire coverage this last week, otherwise I never watch TV - such rubbish on it. Now I guess I should go & start my day!
Ouch, hit me where it hurts! Yeah, the internet is my huge time waster. I've been making an effort to get off my tush and get our home in order and kids doing fun and edifying activities, I still spend far too long on the computer.
Your comment, "I decided that I never wanted my kids seeing me glued to the computer screen" especially strikes me. My 3 year old told me to "go work on a 'puter" when I went to check on his suspicious quiet this afternoon. Ouch! Definitely time to reevaluate my use of time.
You are sooo right! You need to block time out for yourself...just like you do your kids. Great post. cherry
Obviously (since we're all here reading your blog!), the internet is something we invest time in - But I do try to see it as an investment. I subscribe to the blogs that inspire me, or inform me, or entertain me in a good purposeful way.
I consider this part of my "continuing education". How's that for defending my time-waster? :)
I did have to decide between facebook and blogging. I don't need to know what everyone is doing every second - but my oldest children have one and I enjoy looking at what their friends are doing.
I love the saying, "Wherever you are, Be all there." So, I try real hard NOT to multi-task when it comes to anything about my children. I want to hear them and look at them when they talk (and vice versa!!)
Great post. Now...Should we keep you accountable? :)
Oh, I almost forgot!
I put my Laundry Cure post up today. With pictures :)
- And I promise it won't make you cry this time :)
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