We Can’t Have it All – How I’m Refocusing

Dear Readers,

I’ve been letting you down. Although I’ve been writing blog posts I haven’t been posting them. I just haven’t been able to make the time.

You see, sometimes I have it all together and sometimes not… like when I leave 3 loads of laundry for the last minute. I’m scrambling to do it in the few evening hours I have at home. In between catching up with my kids, reading to them and eventually trying to put them to bed.

It’s frustrating when this happens. I know how to be organized, but I just don’t always put in the effort. I rely on remembering to do things on the weekend, only to be stressed out when it’s Sunday night at 9pm and we don’t have milk or cream cheese. If only I had a full time cleaning lady, chef and chauffeur then I’d be ok.

At work I’ve been super busy. Tons of long meetings and working at night has started taking its toll on me. I lost track of what’s truly important. I’ve spent way less time with my husband and kids than I should have. On Erev shabbos my house was a mess and I was way more stressed than what was considered normal.

It’s impossible to have it all. I know that, but it doesn’t mean that I don’t want it all. I just have to take a step back. Refocus.

I hope that this post will be the start of my new attitude. I want to really spend time planning how my life can be the way I envisioned it. I don’t know how to get there yet, but I’ll figure it out. Baby steps…

So, for now, these are the small changes I need to make in order to start living with less stress and better priorities:

1. Separate work/family. Don’t try to do both at the same time.
2. Plan better. Don’t save Shabbos shopping and cooking for the end of the week. Start earlier so there won’t be that last minute rush
3. Go to sleep earlier. Nothing good ever comes out of sleep deprivation!

I think I’ll stop there. These three things will keep me working hard and I think it’s a good start.  I really want to use Shavuos as a new beginning.  Time is moving so fast that I want to be able to stop and smell the roses.  I want my family to know that they are the reason I work so hard.  They are the reason I am happy to come home and I wouldn’t want it any other way.

And not to worry… I will try to keep posting on this little blog of mine.  I enjoy it too much to stop!

What do you do when you want career and family but have to choose only one to focus on?

Until next time,
Shaindy