Tuesday, October 26, 2010

I lack FOCUS... continued...

1. Get dressed. Including shower, make-up and hair.
2. Finish, photograph and upload letter order.
3. Organize and sort all wreath projects.
4. Finish Believe Album.
5. Make 15 holiday bows.

Seems simple right? It wasn't... and I knew that by 10am. When Logan was refusing to nap and Carson wouldn't let me do anything without him behind immediately by my side. I eventually got Logan down, pulled out some "projects" for Carson, which did distract him enough for me to take a shower by myself. So what did I accomplish today? How did the single tasking work for me?

I showered. I finished, photographed and uploaded the letter order. And I organized and sorted my wreath projects. I DID NOT put on make-up or fix my hair (although I still might fix my hair tonight because then I won't have to do it in the morning, which will save me some time), I did not finish the BELIEVE album, although I did get a few more steps out of the way. And I did not even start on the bows. Unless you consider picking out all the different ribbons and accents a start.

The thing with this single tasking is you are supposed to dive into a project 100% and do it and it alone until you finish. Don't jump to anything else, don't put it aside and get up and go do something else. Just start and finish. Read this article for more info. This does not work in the world of Mommmy to babies and toddlers. Let me explain: Putting on my make-up and fixing my hair is something I like to do alone or just not do it. So I do this during nap time or before the boys are awake. Obviously some days I have no choice but to do it while Carson stares at me and constantly asks what "those" are and Logan coo's or fusses, depending on the day from his bouncer at my feet. But if we aren't going anywhere and I don't "have" to, then I just don't.

The letter order was pretty easy. It just needed some finishing touches and to dry completely but even that didn't work exactly right. Because after I took the photos Logan woke up from nap #2 and I had to feed him before I could upload the pics. I mean I didn't jump to another task after I fed him, I did upload the pics but still. Start to finish with one task without doing anything in between? UGH! The wreath projects were done during, the blisfullness that is double nap time (meaning they both slept at the same time), so one thing was started and finished and done quite well. It also didn't take very long because I wasn't thinking about anything else.

Now the last two. I started on the BELIEVE album and was distracted by Logan... he wanted to be played with and when I came back I wasn't "feeling" it anymore, so I started picking ribbon for the bows and then it was time to prep dinner and feed Logan and so on and so forth and now it's evening and I'm ready to have a glass of wine and decompress.

So, I'll try again tomorrow because I really think that this one thing at a time concept is something I need to try but today... not so much.

I lack Focus...

If you know me, you know this is true. I lack focus! I do a million things at one time. I feel like I have to. I've got 5 or 6 sewing projects going at one time, 2 or 3 craft projects going, 2 or 3 painting projects going + laundry, organizing, bill paying, cleaning, changing the sheets and towels, running errands, grocery shopping... well you get the idea. But today, thanks to Susie Moore, I found this article and thanks to the above I found this article.

FOCUS... who has the time to focus? I'm busy. I'm a stay at home mom who is trying to run a business (soon to be two businesses) and still find time for a shower and make-up and get food on the table 3 times per day. I'm the type of person who doesn't feel she's accomplishing anything unless she's accomplishing a lot, so I take on a lot. I'm not going to lie, I like it that way. I like to be busy. It's all I've ever known. I used to joke, but there was some serious truth to it, that I saw my parents more the year after I went to college (6 hours away) then I did my Junior and Senior years of HS. You laugh but like I said... TRUTH! I played golf, was a Varsity basketball manager, on the yearbook staff, was in charge of sports photography, took dance lessons, student council, church youth council, 4-H leadership council, multiple 4-H activities, One-Act play, multiple UIL events, Health Occupations Students of America, volunteered at the county museum and if someone asked... chances are I helped. I am conditioned to be a busy person.

Now recently there has been a lot of articles and news programs about how much our children do, when is it too much and so on and so forth but... I was of the first generation. The first generation of the multi-tasking youth who pushed hard, worked hard and never slept. When I got to college I rebelled! I didn't go to football games, I didn't join organizations, I didn't participate. I did one show my freshman year and when I wasn't cast in anything my second semester, I didn't dive into any other projects, I just took a step back and took a deep breath. As college progressed I dove back in. And then one day I looked up and I was once again doing it all.

So I am conditioned to be this way. It's who I am... it is ingrained into my being. And it's time to change that.

It's going to be a long process. Even as I type this blog I've jumped from article to article and checked my email and changed a diaper and refilled my coffee. Some things can't be avoided (diapers...yuck!) but some things can. So it's 8:40 am and I'm going to try this single tasking thing today. I've got a list of 5 things to accomplish today, beyond the normal "take care of my children" tasks, and I'll weigh in tonight. Here goes...

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Update on my baby!

Logan is just fine! At this point he has not been diagnosed with Tuberous Sclerosis. I say at this time because well, there is no test that will ever be able to give us a definitive yes or no answer. He shows no other symptoms other than the Rhabdomyoma on his heart and is growing and progressing as every other normal infant. We will monitor him from this point on every 6 months or until it is determined that we simply do not have anything to worry about.

So: Cardiologist every 6 months, Geneticist every 6 months, Pediatrician... the normal 1st year schedule. We will be seeing a lot of doctors.

He such a happy baby and normally sleeps wonderfully. He's teething a little sooner than I would have liked but as they say, every baby is different. He's taken to rice cereal like a champ and I can already tell food is going to go over splendidly. Carson keeps Logan entertained and Logan keeps Carson entertained... they both just keep me very, very busy!