Diane: I'm Sure There's an Easier Way
"Between work and school, I have zero downtime."Age 50
Doctoral student and communications director
Single, no children
Long Island, NY
On paper, I can fit everything in my schedule. But in real life, something new is thrown into the mix on an hourly basis, and I find myself scrambling to get everything done. This means that I'm often so exhausted -- a typical day for me is 5:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. -- that all I want to do is sleep on Saturday instead of doing the things I want and need to do.
On top of a full-time job that includes a three-hour daily commute, I'm a doctoral student, so I'm constantly trying to catch up on reading and homework (which I try to do on the train on the way home from my job, but that doesn't always happen). I'm single, so staying social is important to me: On the weekends, I go to ballroom dance parties, take dance lessons, catch up on phone calls and sometimes go on a date. The weekends are also when I fit in all doctors' appointments, hair appointments, massages, etc., and when I go to the gym and cook my meals for the rest of the week.
The two things I wish I had more time for are rest and cleaning, believe it or not. When I'm taking classes, and particularly when I'm finishing up the semester and writing papers, my entire home life suffers -- Christmas chores have to wait till the semester is over, cooking and cleaning don't get done, and even talking to friends on the phone interferes with my plans to read, write, study. It's to the point where I go through my mail once every six months because it piles up in my room. My biggest nightmare is filing papers and finding a place for all of my stuff -- not just paperwork, but extra clothes and little gadgets and things around the house too. I'm sure there's some easier way to handle all of the things in my life, but I haven't figured it out yet.
Send Diane Your Best Advice for Finding More Time!
Robert: My Hands Are Always Full
"Between three businesses and four kids, I constantly have my hands full."Age 32
Self-employed; owner of three businesses (a T-shirt company, a marketing firm for chiropractors and a direct response company that offers CDs to business owners and entrepreneurs)
Married; four children
Rockford, IL
Between three businesses and four kids, I constantly have my hands full. I get up at seven each morning and get my three oldest children ready for school, then check my email, make breakfast for my youngest and get him ready for kindergarten, then head to my computer, where I work until around 8 p.m.
I could seriously use some help with organizing my time and prioritizing tasks. I think my biggest problem is dealing with the constant interruptions throughout my day: teachers calling about the kids at school, relatives calling and asking for favors, emails from clients having problems, and so on -- it's never-ending.
I'd like more time so that I don't feel rushed all day and drained at night. I'd love more "me time" too -- I get to the gym twice a week and that's the extent of my downtime. I need help setting up a time management schedule that allows me to be productive but not hurried.
Send Robert Your Best Advice for Finding More Time!
Cheryl: I Want More Quality Time
"My busy schedule means less quality time with my family."Age 39
School library media specialist
Married; two teen daughters
St. Croix, WI
I really need a time management makeover. My life is filled with activities for my family -- particularly my teen daughters and my aging mother, whom I care for -- but despite all the things I do for them, and all the errands I run for them, when coupled with my full-time job, we don't really have any quality time together.
I work full-time as a library media specialist in a school of 1,040 children. My daughters are involved in bowling, golf, soccer (year-round), basketball, Teens as Teachers, church activities, 4-H ambassadors, and 4-H club officers -- so it means lots of car time and attending events for me. On top of this, I'm involved in our church, and serve as the general leader of the 4-H club and president of the St. Croix Valley Women's Shrine Auxiliary, and I volunteer for fundraisers and arrange events for both these organizations as well as several others. Most of my spare time involves collecting donations and making calls for the volunteer organizations I'm involved with.
As I mentioned, I'm also the caregiver for my mom, who is 77 and who lives with us on and off while she's recovering from surgeries (usually a month at a time). I take her to appointments and take care of all of her financial matters.
I wish I had more time to take a family vacation -- but with our family's busy schedule, it just doesn't happen! I'd also love more time to read and to reflect quietly; read and work in our gardens; scrapbook; exercise; and research the history for the past leaders of an organization I'm involved in.
Send Cheryl Your Best Advice for Finding More Time!