One of the biggest issues I face in my journey of rediscovery of the artist in me is the total lack of time I have on a daily basis.
Now, you would think that someone who is normally upright by 5 AM, and doesn't go to bed until around 10 PM would have more than enough hours in the day to get everything done that needs to get done.
I so wish this was true. Because along with my rediscovering myself as an artist, I'm also having to catch up from several years of depression, and letting so much slide. Keeping up with all the fun stuff, like laundry, dishes, and basic cleaning had kind of fallen by the wayside. So now, I'm having to figure out the whole balance thing. Kids, house, cooking, family, and, of course, creating.
And it's not easy.
I keep thinking when I'm sitting at my work desk, sketching and coming up with ideas, I think "There are so many other things I need to be doing." And when I'm doing housework, the ideas for new pieces keep coming, but I cannot bring myself to stop what I'm what doing (say, mopping the floor, or something equally exciting) to do even a quick sketch. And, of course, the idea gets lost into the sands of time, and there goes another artistic idea down the window.
My goal this year on this is to try to come up with a decent schedule that will work for everyone in my family. Not always the easiest thing in the world to do, since my hubby never has the same day off any given week. And I never know what my children are going to be getting into that day. They are two very creative, imaginative, curious, smart, and fast little boys. They are a complete joy and terror all rolled into one, so I'm having to learn to build time into my schedule that I label "Extra Emergency Time", because I never know when I'm going to have immediately drop what I'm doing to go clean up apple juice from all over the kitchen, pretzels from their bedroom, paint from the dining room walls. Of course, the list is endless.
I have started to use my crock pots more. (Yes, I have two of the little dudes, and I love them. Maybe more than my husband, but don't tell him) There are days when I will put that night's dinner in one, and the next night's dinner in the other one. Or, if it's a good recipe that freezes well, I make up two batches. One for dinner and one to freeze. It's nice to have my own frozen food stash in the freezer. And it's a time saver, too. Oh, sure, one day I have to spend getting everything into the crock pots, but once it's in, and cooking, I'm good.
Laundry is another thing that I've reduced the time I spend on it. My big hint for that is my hubby has taken over the folding and putting away. I still have to sort, wash, dry, and iron whatever needs to be ironed, but not having to worry about folding and putting away has taken some of the load off my shoulders. Plus, I figure, I work as much as he does, and he dirties more laundry than I do, so he can help get it cleaned up.
I'm still trying to figure out the rest of it. I still don't always have the time I need or want. However, slowly but surely, everything is falling into line, and I'm gaining a little bit of time each day. And every day that I gain some time, I feel that I have accomplished something.
Keep your sand blue.
