***Ahh, crap, that is supposed to say, "How do you do it?!" See, I'm too brainmushed to even write a simple question!!!***
How do you balance work, family, and writing?
I can't seem to do it all. My work has picked up, which is good because I'm paid on commission, but I've been pouring so much of myself into my work that I have no time or energy for writing, and when I'm not at work, I'm going to my kids' school functions or soccer practices or games.
I know there are some people here who do it all. But when I get in work mode, my creative flow locks up tight. When I'm focused on writing, my work suffers. Maybe I'm just not the type who can do it all. Maybe some can and some can't.
Here's a typical day:
5 am - 6 am ~ wake up and work out (health reasons, has to be done)
6 -7 ~ hopefully squeeze in a load of laundry so we'll have clothes to wear and maybe some dishes before waking kids (about 6:30) and getting them some breakfast
7-8 ~ still getting kids ready, signing school notes, getting lunches ready, have another kid dropped off that I watch, finally manage to get daughter to stop re-doing hair and changing outfits and get all of them on bus
8-5 ~ work
5-7:30 ~ kids' soccer practices
7:30- 9 ~ quick dinner, dinner clean up, kids to bed
9 on ~ zone for a few minutes, too tired to think, fall asleep in front of computer answering work emails or trying to write, brain shuts down completely, turn on tv and eventually move to bed, and finally sleep for the night
And, then when I do have those few precious moments to write, (like now) I feel totally stuck, like my brain isn't working in that mode anymore. I know I can fix it with just doing it, but by the time I get going, I have a place I have to be, a kid to pick up, or one to drop off.
And often, I'm in the office on weekends and late nights. Sometimes I feel like I need to choose between a job and writing. I just don't know how some of you manage high-stress and demanding jobs, kids, all the house and lawn care chores, and writing. Do you think there's a trick to it? Or do some people just not need sleep?
How do you balance work, family, and writing?
I can't seem to do it all. My work has picked up, which is good because I'm paid on commission, but I've been pouring so much of myself into my work that I have no time or energy for writing, and when I'm not at work, I'm going to my kids' school functions or soccer practices or games.
I know there are some people here who do it all. But when I get in work mode, my creative flow locks up tight. When I'm focused on writing, my work suffers. Maybe I'm just not the type who can do it all. Maybe some can and some can't.
Here's a typical day:
5 am - 6 am ~ wake up and work out (health reasons, has to be done)
6 -7 ~ hopefully squeeze in a load of laundry so we'll have clothes to wear and maybe some dishes before waking kids (about 6:30) and getting them some breakfast
7-8 ~ still getting kids ready, signing school notes, getting lunches ready, have another kid dropped off that I watch, finally manage to get daughter to stop re-doing hair and changing outfits and get all of them on bus
8-5 ~ work
5-7:30 ~ kids' soccer practices
7:30- 9 ~ quick dinner, dinner clean up, kids to bed
9 on ~ zone for a few minutes, too tired to think, fall asleep in front of computer answering work emails or trying to write, brain shuts down completely, turn on tv and eventually move to bed, and finally sleep for the night
And, then when I do have those few precious moments to write, (like now) I feel totally stuck, like my brain isn't working in that mode anymore. I know I can fix it with just doing it, but by the time I get going, I have a place I have to be, a kid to pick up, or one to drop off.
And often, I'm in the office on weekends and late nights. Sometimes I feel like I need to choose between a job and writing. I just don't know how some of you manage high-stress and demanding jobs, kids, all the house and lawn care chores, and writing. Do you think there's a trick to it? Or do some people just not need sleep?
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