Managing my time

I've been bitching and moaning for months about how I don't have enough time to do everything I need to do. Projects, reading, operations stuff..... It felt like I was constantly busy, but nothing was getting done. When having Valentine's dinner with Russ, and complaining some more, I said the magic words: "I control my own schedule." Meaning my boss isn't managing my time; he just expects that I will get stuff done. So, after that epiphany, I realized that, hey, maybe I could do a better job of organizing my time.

After so many years of working, I've come to know about myself that I don't get into productive, let's-get-this-done mode until after lunch. So, I've scheduled my mornings (when I don't have meetings) to by my reading time. That's reading professional journals, websites, blogs, and books that I need to keep up with what's going on, and maybe (hopefully) learn something new.

The afternoons will be spent working on projects. Monday mornings will be my time to schedule specific things for the week, slotting each into an appropriate afternoon time slot. I think that part of my problem before was feeling overwhelmed by everything that needed to be done, and not having a handle on what exactly that was. So it just all seemed completely overwhelming. So, I've figured out what exactly needs to be done for each project. Yeah, yeah, that's Project Management 101. I'd just forgotten the basics.

Vacations

I went on vacation with my sister last week to Charlotte, NC. When we got there on 2/4, it was pretty cold -- about 34 degrees. By Saturday, it was 75. It was so nice to be outside without a coat. I visited the Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens on Saturday, and saw some crocuses and daffodils, in addition to their orchid exhibit.

We had some good food, fun window shopping at stores we can in no way afford, and lots of relaxation (massages, pedicures, movies in our room while munching pizza). I also visited Trader Joe's for the first time, and it was FANTASTIC! Can we have one here? Please? (According to BuffaloPundit, there might be one on Maple in Amherst if Benderson ever gets the go-ahead to build the development they have planned.)

Now I'm home, and that's good too. I think that every parent should be allowed a few days away from their spouse/kids at least once a year. It brings you back refreshed and ready to be a contributing member of the family.