Friday, July 12, 2013

I Need a Time Machine

No, I don't want to travel to the future or to the distant past. I want to freeze time so I can get all my work done.

As most of you know, I'm a writer, an editor, a mom, and a wife. Add summer break in there and I'm swamped. My daughter and husband are home, and for some reason they are demanding my attention more than usual. Now I love being with my family, but they aren't the only ones demanding my time. I have a book releasing in August, so I'm working on my blog tour. I'm also doing edits on four of my books coming out in 2014. And I'm editing for my clients.

So yeah, I need to freeze time. That or I need to find a way to give up sleep entirely. Now you may be thinking that I should just schedule my time and extend some deadlines, but then I'd feel guilty. I've never missed a deadline and I don't want to start now.

How do you deal with having too many things to do and not enough time to do them?

42 comments:

  1. I freak out. But that probably doesn't help you much. :-)

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    1. It makes me know I'm not alone, so it helps that way. ;)

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  2. I understand the problem and can only say that I deal with it through exhaustion. Okay, that and forgetting what a social life is.

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  3. Have you asked Sherry or Tyler to lend you theirs???? :)

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  4. I'm with you Kelly....I have no social life like you and Claudette. Oh and I'm an insomniac.

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    1. Eek! That's not good. I don't know how I'd function if I didn't sleep. Of course the lack of sleep I get in these situations giving me a pretty good idea.

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  5. There always seems to be something to do. I don't have the books out yet, but there is still the editing and writing, and family.

    I know where you're coming from. I think we all need to learn when and how to say no sometimes.

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  6. Social life? what social life? I'm not even getting enough time to be "social" on Facebook and Twitter! You know that movie,"I Don't Know How She Does it"? Kelly, that's you. I have great admiration for you and for what you've accomplished, but I swear, I don't know how you do it all! I'm retired ( and that's a laugh), and I still couldn't do half of what you do. And no, I have no suggestions for you...unless you can invent that time machine. If you do, will you loan it to me? Please?

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    1. If I can invent a time machine, I'll make a second one for you, Mikki. :) Actually, I'll mass produce them. I think there are a lot of people who'd want one.

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  7. I'm with you on the time crunch! I'm hoping to catch up a little during an upcoming writers' retreat.

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  8. I eat chocolate and read a book when I get too overwhelmed. It might give you a sugar high and make you MORE productive. You never know. :)

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    1. Sounds like a good plan, Kat. I like the way you think!

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  9. I think it's super hard in the summer too because the days are so much longer. You want to be outside doing things instead of being stuck behind a computer ... but the work still has to get done. Just pace yourself and do what you can. You're such a pro. Trust me, you always exceed expectations :-)

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    1. Thanks, Faith. I figure I'll have this down pat by the time my daughter and husband are back in school. lol

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  10. "I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by." ~ Douglas Adams
    Actually, I never miss deadlines, but I never over-schedule myself either. Life is too short, and I want to enjoy every moment. :-)

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    1. I usually thrive under pressure, but that's when I actually have the time to meet the deadlines.

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  11. There isn't a perfect answer to this question. I make a point to leave the house for a certain number of hours - my quality time and no interruptions. Early morning, Starbucks, library, or hotel lobbies (which are surprisingly easy to access). Seriously, it works.

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  12. I was just sitting here wishing for time to freeze too! I am not sure how I am going to get everything done today that I need to do. I usually freak out and try to do what needs to be done first now- and work from there. Good luck!

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  13. I have no idea how you do all you do....
    I had a friend whose father composed a ditty he sang to her: "Make a list, make a list" is the only part of it I remember. I sing it to myself when it's time to do and seemingly not enough time to do it.

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  14. "How do you deal with having too many things to do and not enough time to do them?"

    I daydream. lol

    Hmm, maybe that's why my novel stays in my head rather than jumping onto the page. :)

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  15. When I start feeling overwhelmed (and that is often!), I remind myself to slow down, breathe, and tackle one thing at a time. I am so impressed with all that you are accomplishing this summer, and that you have never missed a deadline. You are obviously doing something right! = )

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    1. Thanks, Becky. Sounds like you have a good system for calming yourself down.

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  16. I try to squeeze things into my weekend schedule, although that doesn't always work out.

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    1. I feel like every day is a weekend and that's the problem. lol

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  17. If I ever figure out how to manage my time better, I'll let you know. Until then, I just keep on trucking. :)

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  18. Drink more tea. It always, sometimes, works for me.

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  19. I'm in a similar boat. I either need six extra hours a day, or an assistant.

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  20. Costco has a great deal on 36-hour days -- in case the time machine doesn't work.

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  21. Same here. I have three different projects on the go at the moment but only one of me!

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