My friend Denise at BlogHer recently wrote I'm fascinated by New Year's Resolutions but I don't make them. Do you?
I had to respond with my rather ambitious Setting Goals When You Don't Know What the Future Holds (and a look back at 2007 with Setting the Stage for 2008).
Denise emailed me, "Wow. This is one heck of a list. It's cool but it scares me." I wrote her back to admit it scares me, too. Not only do I have lengthy professional goal list, but I have My five weight loss and exercise goals for 2008.
Did I mention I have a part-time job, do volunteer work, have two school age kids with active schedules, and a semi-high maintenance husband?
Ambitious? Nah, insane is more like it.
For some more inspiration, I went to Freelance Switch to read 20 Time & Energy Drains You Eliminate. Lots of great advice, but I needed specifics.
Well, I could stop showering, getting dressed, eating, going to the potty, and sleeping. But since that isn't practical here are...
My 2008 Goals for Getting Rid of Time Sucking Devices
1. Don't start any new blogs. I've also dropped a few. Hopefully, I'll be too busy to get an urge to start a new one. If not, I'll be starting a chapter of Bloggers Anonymous instead.
2. Don't volunteer as much. I'm on the nomination and teacher/staff appreciation at my children's school. The time devoted to the nomination committee isn't negotiable but the teacher/staff appreciation committee is. I won't be cooking for them or getting together with the other moms to make cards or gifts. Instead, I'll be leaving my five teachers/staff members their monthly goodies - anonymously - in their mail boxes. To save time, I'll have to automate the process with prepared in advance cards, gift envelopes, etc.
I also volunteer with my MOMS Club as membership VP and secretary. It's minimal work and my term is up in the summer. And once both kids are in school next fall, I'll probably drop my membership.
3. Get the kids/husband to help more around the house. They're old enough to pick up after themselves and help me carry groceries in from the care. Boo Girl loves to fold laundry, too.
I'm not just talking about my children here. The big kid of the house, a.k.a., Big Bad Dad, needs to set a good example for the kids, too, and pick up after himself, too. Honestly, I think I spend 30-60 minutes a day just picking up food, used band-aids, candy wrappers, school papers, toys, clothes and shoes and putting them where they belong.
4. Spend less time reading magazines and newspapers. I'm pretty good at "scanning and tossing" right now. And while I get a lot of magazine subscriptions for little to no money, I plan not to renew several of them since they take up more time then they're worth. I really hate to give up the newspapers since they give me information for my blogs and keep me up-to-date on my community, but I need to glance more and read less.
5. Just don't sit there. Work while the kids play. Our karate studio will be putting in wireless this month. Other places we hang out at like McDonald's, the library and so on have wireless, too. I need to go back to listening to podcasts in the car. And now that both kids have Leapsters (and headphones to go with them) this will be easier.
6. Drop my book club. I don't have time to read the books let alone drive to Denver once a month to discuss it with a bunch of cynical gals who never enjoyed reading the books. I only joined because my friend Michelle was in it. I'll still see her at bunco, playdates and when I drop off her daughter after school.
7. Hire some help. My mother-in-law helps out a lot with laundry and cleaning when she's here. But there are times I do need help the house. I have friends who do this professionally and I should give them some business...and not feel guilty about doing it. Same goes with daycare and school carpooling.
8. Step away from the computer. Email needs to only be looked at a few times a day. I also must unsubscribe from several e-newsletters and shopping sites - or tell my email software to consider their emails spam. Plus, I've got to stop messing around on sites like Facebook and checking my blog stats.
Do you have a suggestion for eliminating a time sucking device? Comment below!
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