Slowing it down

Ambition has always been my vice. Even my grandmother pointed out how ambitious I was as a child when I wanted to have several careers and simultaneously prepared for all of them at once. My mother always seemed to be able to do a thousand things at once and did not sleep much, and I just followed along, thinking I could do everything.

You know those parents who think their kids can’t do anything? My mom was the opposite. I’d make all A’s, get published, work at a restaurant and juggle a bunch of after school activities and she’d ask, “Sara, why aren’t you president yet?” I’m being facetious here, but the point is that my ambitious nature was highly encouraged. My dad was the opposite, completely laid back, but it never rubbed off on me.

Anyhow, I’m just now learning the value of slowing down and enjoying the moment. I’ve started with food, and I still have the bad habit of working while I eat; but I’m getting much better. Wood Sprite is really enjoying it, too. So my plan for 2014 is to—not plan. At least, not as much.

Indy says it’s impossible, but I’ve already stopped color coding my planner, so that’s something, right?

You can see how full my planner is for the month in the photo above. And that’s only the monthly spread—the dailies are much worse (and messier)! One strategy I’ve tried is inserting stickers here and there in my planner so I don’t fill it up with other things. It doesn’t work. I just scrawl in the margins.

I think I’m afraid of blank space…

So my new strategy is to actually schedule things, but to make them things that aren’t really activities my family has to go out and do. Maybe I’ll schedule some time to learn to make an apple pie. Or some time for water color painting. Wouldn’t my family love that? Would yours?

How do you take a step back when you need to slow down?

Photo courtesy of Sara S.