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    • Home Parenting Articles

    I Need Five More Hours in Every Day (at Least)

    By Dawn M. Roode

    ClockA big part of my job for years has been to help those who work for and with me to prioritize, and I pride myself on generally being good at that myself. I don't often panic (though when I do, watch out!). And I don't let much phase me. I am good at zooming in to the details and out to the big picture, knowing when to say no, when to just DO something (no more talking, meetings, or thinking!) and when I absolutely must recharge.

    But no matter how well I prioritize and juggle, lately it seems I cannot catch up on even the most mundane things. I am falling behind in my life, and I hate how it feels!! The only real answer I can seem to come up with is: I need more hours in a day. But unless I'm missing out on some cool new app, I'm pretty sure that's not happening. I surprise myself by being relatively good (if I do say so myself) at living in the moment, especially when I am with my son. I've said it before, but it is oh-so-true: I relish my time with him. I am lucky to have a flexible schedule where I have two full days at home with him during the week, and those are like gifts for which I wake up feeling grateful—and which I perhaps would not as fully appreciate if I weren't doing something else I love through my job on those other days. A notorious morning hater (my mom warned my husband when we moved in together: "Just don't talk to her for an hour") I nonetheless like morning alone-time with my son. I do, do, do wish that time started just a wee bit later...but after my initial grumbles and groans and internal cursing, I arise from bed, walk in his room, and transform. If my mom could see me now—smiling and talking at 6:30am! Never could either of us have imagined it. When I'm in the office, my mind is focused on work. My husband and I rarely touch base throughout the day, and only on a rare occasion do I run an errand during work. I enjoy editing, planning, reading what all of the other parents in our area are talking about, the whole nine yards. So yeah, I'm living in the moment. I just need more of them. How else would you suggest I get everything done? Here's a sampling of my mental to-do list:
    • Eat • Sleep • Buy a damn new refrigerator (should be easy, right? If only they still made a counter-depth fridge that was the same depth as my counters...!) • Exercise (a.k.a., feel more energetic, lose weight, de-stress, justify the monthly YMCA fee) • Start up a passion project for which a business plan sits, moldy, in my basement • Volunteer • Implement all the cool stuff I learned at this year's BlogHer • Write about the cool people I met at BlogHer2012 • Actually socialize with my friends, not just "like" their Facebook posts • Act like a kid a little when I'm not with my kid (ah, that innocence, that unbridled joy!) • Rip up the 12 scraps of paper with to-do items all more important than those that appear here • Put all the stuff I've been saving for my son's baby book in his baby book • Sleep...more than 3 straight hours.
    ***

    Anybody out there got some time to spare?

    Any left over would be great appreciated by me—and if not, some time management tips are welcome, too.
    What is the biggest thing on your wishful to-do list that you never get to??
     


    ;
    Dawn M. Roode

    Author:

    Dawn M. Roode was formerly editorial director of NYMetroParents, where she launched the award-winning semi-annual magazine Special Parent. She was managing editor at Parenting, BabyTalk, Child, Harper's Bazaar, and Latina magazines. She is a strategic content specialist and currently writes and edits parenting, health, travel, and special needs features for various media outlets. Roode is mom to one son and recently relocated from Brooklyn to the suburbs of New York City. Follow her on Twitter @DawnRoode.

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