On vacation, I did a lot of thinking, praying, thinking, reading, and talking. I've been a bit worried about my pace of life, and I despaired that I had to bring work with me on my vacation. Yep, I even brought my crackberry, much to the chagrin of my kids who see my need for rest. All I really want is simplicity.
It seems obvious that I should've rested on vacation, right?
And for the most part I did, but with my responsibilities to The Writers View as well as various other writing and mentoring duties, I had a hard time letting go.
When I returned home, I started purging and using the word NO. Some of what I did included:
- Saying no to endorsements. I'm sad about this, but I simply cannot squeeze in another book to read right now.
- Unsubscribed from several emails. This has really de-cluttered my inbox.
- Bought this book: Getting Things Done by David Allen.
- Contacted my CPA and scheduled an appointment to talk about my options in terms of incorporating.
- Got sick one evening and spent the time watching cooking and decorating shows. Oh how I needed that.
- Kept my speaking fees at one level. At this point in my life, travel is a problem. It saps my strength and takes me away from my family. So if I speak, it has to be worth the time away.
- Prayed through a new decision after my dear, dear agent moved on. It's an interesting time for me, so having to find a new agent actually feels like anticipation for what's next, though I grieve losing her. I'm expectant to see what God will do and who He will lead me to.
- I kept my workspace clutter free.
- Just saying no in general. I'm learning there's only one me, not five. So the one me has to say no, or I'll break up into five frazzled people.
- I still try to keep dinner with my family a sacred time, slowing down while I prepare dinner, savoring the creativity.
- I spent time in the garden to clear my head.
- Unfortunately, though, in the busy-ness of coming back, I haven't exercised. (But Boot Camp will come on Monday and then I'll be sore, but happy.)
13 comments:
I think saying no is the most important thing you've got here. But what's helping me today is having a to-do list in front of me that makes my day look simple, even if it isn't, and helps me feel accomplished because I can check tasks off as I complete them!
Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for sharing. My cousin incorporated several years ago (he's an actor/director/producer, not a writer), and it made his life easier esp. in terms of taxes.
Hi Mary,
I’ve decided not to succumb to the pressure of Twitter.
I limit my time social networking.
I appreciate this post. I think with all of the convenient technology we have today, we are slipping away from iced tea and rocking chairs.
I like rocking chairs and quiet around me so I can hear the birds singing.
~ Wendy
I am very big on twitter(over 20,000 followers from several accounts), but have learned how to use it without taking all of my time. You have to think of it as a message sending board or a press release room and not a chat room. Once I did that, the time on twitter adjusted dramatically.
Beth Gray
http://www.bethgray.us
Mary, this is such a timely post as I have dealt with this situation this week.
I work a full time job, am an unpaid staff member and counselor at my church, have family & house responsibilities and have just added more caretaker responsibilties for my parents. Somewhere in there, I'm trying to study the craft of writing and trying to write. I just realized the other day how stressed and exhausted I am and how my spiritual life and physical body is suffering from all of this. So I have taken a leave of absence from my church responsibilities. This will give me time to concentrate on my spiritual and physical areas and my writing.
I am also going to try and get away 1 day a month for prayer, meditation, study and journaling.
Thanks,
Edwina
www.edwinacowgill.com
www.musingsofedwina.blogspot.com
Mary,
One thing I did was listen to some advice I heard from Mark Driscoll. I know a lot of people don't like him, but he does say a lot of great things.
One thing he said had to do with staying alive - doing things that really excite us. He said you have to build time into each day to do something completely unrelated to work that makes you happy. That might be fixing a meal for you. That tidbit has made a big difference in my life. We tend to cut the "non-professional" things first, but they can be our greatest source of wakeful rest.
There was a possibility that Chris and I might move. It looks now like that won't happen, and I realized that most of the reason I looked forward to it was the opportunity to start over and reclaim my simple life--something I discovered and fell in love with after seminary. Somehow, recently, I'd lost that. I don't like being busy.
I decided I could clean my own slate, thank you very much. So one by one, I'm removing things. So freeing. So lovely. So restful. I've rediscovered beauty.
I have been thinking and praying about this exact thing...thanks for sharing.
Good job, Mary! One of my most helpful sayings that a YWAM person said to me many years ago:
"The need is not the call."
That has to be true, because the needs are endless. The call has to be specific, doable (yes, in God's strength, but with respect for our limits), and clear.
Blessings, Karen
My sister presented a wonderful talk at her church called "What's on Your Plate?" The gist of her message was so often we get so busy with life and our responsibilities that we end up pushing God to the side of our plate, or even off our plate. If we strive to keep in the center of His will, then we will be able to see what needs to be on our plates.
Thank you for sharing the ways you're de-busy-fying your life. I have a hard time saying no, especially at church where we are small in number. I feel guilty almost as if I'm saying no to God.
I always have a creative project in the works. I view it as a kind of sanctuary. Something for just for me. No deadlines, no pressure, no expectations of perfection. It just stays in the edges of my day and waits for me to come to it, not requiring anything of me but that I enjoy myself.
Right now I'm hand-quilting a quilt for my daughter's bed. She's almost 11 and I'd love to have it done by her birthday, but I've already told her she will get it when she's 18. ;) That way, I can savor the process. And, as you'd imagine, quilting is now something I look forward to every week, and something I use to reward myself when I get more "official" things accomplished.
Well, I'm thrilled you were willing to endorse Not So Fast--I guess I slipped in with my request just before you put on the brakes (thank you so much!)! But, if you had turned me down, I would have understood completely (because slowing down and recognizing our limits is, after all, the point of the book).
I'm glad you are paring down and finding what is going to work well for your life overall. Life is a bit more like a marathon than a sprint--there are times we kick into high gear even during a marathon, but to make it over the long haul, we have to discover how to pace ourselves. As you shift and adapt, you're already finding a good rhythm that works well.
I celebrate your courage to make bold decisions that respect the warning signs that change was needed.
And I love the photo.
Getting rid of whatever isn't supporting the most important things in life is the key for me. Once I figured out what was important and put first things first, planning which activities to say "yes" or "no" to came a lot easier. Although, I do have to stop and think sometimes to remember that I don't really have to do it all! This topic is so near to my heart that my entire blog is dedicated to it!
http://overcomingbusy.com
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