Too Busy Too Tired And Going With The Flow

Does this sound like you?

Over the years, I’ve had a bad habit of getting caught up in “busyness” and just going with the flow, especially when I’m tired, and have found that just like a rip current at the beach, it’s easy to lose sight of one’s bearings. When our children were younger, this was even more of a problem, but even now with them in their 20s and early 30s, we still find it easy to be as taken up with their doings and dramas as ever, with the added complication of their own broods.

I also work a day job which is still consuming much of my time, though I have been able to reduce my hours, and have also managed more time off than in previous years. This is helping my creativity and as well as giving me more time to do other things. Of course, when the kids were younger I couldn’t imagine doing this because of financial pressures.

As I get older, I’m finding that energy levels can deplete rather quickly, and so allow myself a half day/week doing my own thing or lounging around or reading to recover, with the second half of that day being spent being social and catching up with friends. Keeping a family and social balance is important, especially as relationships change over the years.

Relationships do change!

When our children were younger, our relationships were centered around them, their friends, their friends’ parents, our parents, as well as work mates and friends from Church and social groups. As people have moved away and passed, I have made it a personal mission to make new friends to maintain that balance.

Avoiding Drifting Away With The Flow!

I now have a whiteboard system, with boards in my office and kitchen where I jot down ideas, or where I am up to with projects. (Being careful to a/ not get the whiteboard markers mixed with permanent markers and b/ keep all of them out of reach of little fingers.) The side of the fridge makes a handy whiteboard when stuck!

“Isolation is the dream killer, not your attitude…” Barbara Sher

It’s easy to beat ourselves up and try and force ourselves to do better, which in turn can lead to attitude problems and a real slump, affecting creativity and relationships if we let it. Often, all that is needed is a little time off doing something else and/or sleep!

My day job is good for me because it keeps me interacting with others.

That sparks my creativity. Finding the time balance between family, work and business has always been my problem. Reduced hours at work has sometimes led me to believe that I can take on even more activities, but that has proven to be a bit of a trap as well. Learning some basic time management skills has helped me get more done because I have to fit stuff in around other commitments. I will admit though that at times I do feel just too tired to give a hoot!

Remember that family and friends are human beings, not tasks!

I remember years ago someone saying that spending “quality time” with kids was more important than spending a lot of time with them, but I have found that I disagree with that to some extent. Children especially have to be able to see our “normal selves”, that’s how they develop their own identity, and understand that they are just human as well.

We’ve taught our eldest grandson to do things like jigsaw puzzles as an alternative to devices and screens, and tried to develop a love of reading by rewarding him when he has completed a new book or puzzle. Having a trampoline in the backyard and a dog to play with has also helped him and our younger grandchildren to be able to create their own fun.

I use this advice on rip currents to help myself manage “the drift”:

What is the best way to get out of a rip current?

Remain calm. If you get caught in a rip current, don’t panic. …
Call for help if you’re not a strong swimmer. …
Float or tread water until you can swim out of the current. …
Swim parallel to shore to escape the current. …
Swim diagonally to the shore after you’re out of the current.

The whiteboard system is my virtual shoreline.

I am still thinking and planning while drifting, and can jot things down while performing other tasks. Using the calendar alarms on my phone has also been handy at different times, as is the age old diary or notebook. The phone’s been handy, as at times I haven’t been able to have a diary with me, or had time to write.

I always seem to have time to talk, so have been known to make voice recordings on my phone.

Whether using a whiteboard, diary or phone, the important thing is to remember to use them, otherwise it is easy to allow your “drift” to become a “slump”.

Has this post been interesting or helpful? Please feel free to share your thoughts!