Silver Lining: that mythical place called balance

November 5, 2013

that mythical place called balance

Life lately has been going 110mph.


I go to work early early early, I work hard all day, I pick up Sam, we go grocery shopping, we do big adult things like buy a washer and dryer, we come home and finally get a dinner on at 7:45pm (and it's not even that healthy), we help Jason finish his homework, we squeeze in some service and treats for family night, we clean up (but only the minimal amount required), and by that time it's 9:30, no blog post is done, my to-do list has grown by about 5 important items (you know, like pay rent and shower), and I can barely keep my eyes open for family scriptures and prayer.

To my teacher friends who are also bloggers and moms to multiple babies: I literally don't know how you do it. I'm in awe! It blows my mind.

Why is that life is either like a long summer break day, with nothing to do and all day to do it, or it's like a busy, crazy, from way-before-dawn to way-after-dusk day? Is there no middle ground?

I thought about putting together a list of advice for myself. You know, prioritize, get lots of sleep to help you be more productive, and other oft-touted, meaningless advice ;) Really I think the key here is just let it go! Roll with it! Embrace the chaos! Get 9 hours of sleep every night in the summer to store up for the 5 hours you'll get each night during the school year. That or forget everything and move to Majorca.

At school, I think I do a much better job with rolling with the chaos. Copies aren't done? I'll have them write down the problems in their notebook. Library is cancelled? 15 much-needed extra minutes of math. My science experiment malfunctions? We'll watch the YouTube version. But outside of school, with everything else, finding balance (or embracing the imbalance) is harder for me. I loved Bon's post about balance last week. Susan's quote seriously sums it up: "balance for me is a mystical creature that lives where unicorns live."

Clearly I haven't found that mystical place yet. It's 5:30am and I'm typing this blog post while eating breakfast while my hair dries.

So here's to being imbalanced!
Anyone else feeling crazy busy lately?
Oh, and someone remind me to pay rent today. But seriously.

7 comments:

  1. Yes! I've been going non stop. I've started to prioritize my time at school without kids. So instead of just enjoying the peace and quiet when they're gone today during music, I'll use it to prep for tomorrow. Such an obvious idea, but sometimes so difficult to do!

    I'll be on the look out for that mystical place and let you know when I find it! :)

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  2. I haven't found that mythical place with teaching either.

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  3. i totally know what you mean. Im in my last semester of school but im still going to the middle school and teaching like once a week for my practicum, plus two jobs. i literally feel like my to-do list is never ending. teaching is tuff. haha but i think setting goals has been pretty helpful for me! good luck with everything!

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  4. Yes! I can definitely relate. Now that I'm part-time, I feel that balance is easier to achieve, but still hard to do. Teaching full time with two little babies, while being YW president and a blogger.... yeah, that was hard! I've learned to just take each day at a time as best as possible.

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  5. I feel the same way. I commute 45-50 minutes to teach and I teach at a charter school, so I have to be there 7:30-3:30. I teach 6 different subjects: 7th Lit and Lang Art, 8th Lit and Lang Art, 9th Lit and Lang Arts..so planning is ridiculous, as well as the amounts of grading. I don't have any kids yet, but my husband is a full time student and a part-time worker, so I hardly get to see him. And we both have a quick dinner (eating out more than we'd like to admit) and then its on to grading/prepping and homework then scriptures and bed.

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  6. I feel like that is basically my life as a teacher too. If I am keeping up with things at school I am neglecting things at home. And I have forgotten how to do nothing, because I am always doing something. Your not alone and if you find a solution let me know!!!

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  7. Balance is a lie. Even the people who look balanced on the outside, are still running around feeling as crazy as the rest of us. There is no break. Every phase of life brings a rush of too much to do in too little time. You're doing fine. You've already figured it out, you have to let some things slide. (For me lately, that's been reading blogs!) Prioritize, then let it go. Focus on the things that bring inner peace, the important stuff like your mom taught you, then let the chaos fly around you while you enjoy (as best you can) your bubble of calm.

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