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Jul 2009

Back to Basics.

July 23, 2009 By 22 Comments
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4-4-of-6

I don’t know about you all, but I’ve been feeling a smidge overwhelmed lately. I wake up knowing there is much to be done, yet not sure how to tackle it all, or more importantly where to start. I have a to-do list a mile long – scratch that, I have about 6 to-do lists going right now: photography, this blog, MOPS, the boys, house hold stuff, emails to reply to… it goes on. and on. and on.

My heart is heavy, and my plate full.

Have you ever felt this way? As I sit looking at the many items to address I ask myself, why have I allowed things to pile up? It isn’t that I’m an unorganized person. In fact if you know me, you know I’m the one who hangs her clothes by color, loathes clutter, and rolls her towels so they look pretty. For some reason though, I’ve fallen off the organization-train.

A while ago I shared with you all about my daily routine & weekly routine. I even offered free downloads of the sheets I use. Want to take a wild guess as to if I’ve been using these lately? That’s right, I haven’t. I know that because of this I’ve sort of lost touch with my routine and began a journey through the Land of What Do I do Now?

How will I get back on track?

  • Bring the routine back. I need to re-incorporate my basic routines back in place. Start printing my weekly sheet and filling it out on Sunday evenings. I use my iPhone calendar daily, but having something visual is a must for me.
  • Take an afternoon/evening to re-group. I admit it, I have piles. Piles of things to tackle, papers to be dealt with, correspondences to be made…  I hate piles. I have binders for the various ‘hats’ I wear (The Creative Mama, MOPS, my photography business, finances, etc) and simply need to go back into them weeding out what doesn’t need to be there. Getting the piles down to nothing, and committing to keeping up with them.
  • Brain Dump. I love Simplemom’s approach to this, she wrote about it here. My mind is so cluttered with the things I need to accomplish, and getting it all out of my head and onto paper is the first step to checking them off my ‘list’.
  • Let it go. Ultimately I can do my best to stay on top of things and conquer the never ending trail of to-do’s, but there are times that I have to sit back and realize I’m just human. Emily of Chatting at the Sky is one of the most inspirational women I’ve had the privaledge to meet (online). Often times I’ll go back to this post she wrote about being more, and doing less.

Truly, I didn’t mean to be a downer today. I actually quite love being busy and am so thankful to be apart of the many things I am commited to. I’m lucky to be involved with an amazing MOPS group, I love this blog and what it is becoming, and my photography business is near and dear to my heart. It’s just a matter of getting back to basics, re-focusing, and doing.

How do you get back on the horse when you’ve fallen off? I’d love to read your thoughts!

{Get Your Creative On is back tomorrow! Hope to see you all there!)

About Angie


Angie is the founder and editor of The Creative Mama, who lives in the beautiful Bay Area, CA. She also blogs her own personal journey at angiewarren.com. When she isn't writing or taking photos, Angie can be found having tickle fights with her boys and frequenting the local Starbucks.

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  • http://chattingatthesky.com emily

    You articulate so well the struggle of Every Woman. Thank you for being willing to share the real with us. And also? Thank you for that overwhelming compliment. My mouth is hanging awkwardly open and I’m not sure what to say more than that. Except that your blog design is divine.

  • http://theadora.wordpress.com theadora

    Thank you for the encouragement to have a”do-over” day. I actually purged some things of my own this week…(school starts for me in 3 weeks)..I have been getting bulletin boards ready and lesson plans created. Therefore, leaving things at home a little neglected. I am going to work on those “lists” today. I feel a song coming…”Baby come back!…(to the basics)… LOL!

  • http://proverbs31homekeeper.blogspot.com/ Chele

    You know how I feel about being real about who you are, thanks for sharing this! I have actually had this same issue the past two weeks. I just can’t get on track. We are only human, not superwomen… we can’t do everything on our own! So I enlist help from my hubby and kids when I can’t get to the chores. With my blog, well that’s another story and I am still struggling with getting everything done I need to do! But most of all, I give God the control of my life instead of trying to take it all on myself! It helps! :) You’ll get there, I have faith in you! ;)

  • Amy

    Thank you so much for sharing your downloads with us! I just got a new planner last night and plan on printing the daily sheet today. :)

  • http://www.parismillerphoto.com Tammy

    Thank you Angie for saying exactly how I feel. I sometimes get so overwhelmed with my own multiple to-do lists, and I don’t even have children yet! =0) Sometimes there are just not enough hours in the day. Like Emily said, it’s great that you can write about the struggles that we all deal with, and you certainly make me feel better knowing I’m definitely not the only one that feels this way. Thanks for the encouragement to re-group & re-structure!

  • http://www.steadymom.com steadymom

    You can’t do it all and still be a whole person. Accepting that is so hard, yet so freeing at the same time. I’m in my own version of a similar time, and while it’s so “uncomfortable,” there’s also work going on behind the scenes. This is where the growth happens. (so I keep reminding myself!)

    Blessings to you,

    Jamie

  • http://www.gracefulcreative.com kirwin @ Graceful Creative

    Oh Ang. I can relate.
    Writing a “brain dump” always helps me. For some reason, that calms me. It’s like laying it all on the table, and going from there. I prioritize, choose what should happen first, what should happen next, and what can I let go?

    BTW, I love your planning downloads. Maybe one day (not now!!!) you’ll make a monthly one? My brain thinks per-month. And by typing this, I didn’t mean to add to your To Do list. ; )

  • angie

    Theadora, you crack me up!! Now that song is stuck in my head : )

    Kirwin, I love the idea! I’m writing in my blog ideas now… are you thinking something similar to what you have, that format?

    To everyone else, I appreciate your sharing so much more than you can imagine. Laying it all out, and embracing our ‘craziness’ lets others know it’s okay! We’re all rowing similar boats – just in different types of water.

    Hugs to all! Muah!

  • http://jaimeflemingphotography.yolasite.com Jaime Fleming

    well i am having very similar feelings. with my photography ‘business’ taking off and my husband gone to texas witht he military for 4 months, i have suddenly found my housework to be overwhelming, to say the least. my office area has a pile 10 inches deep. i just keep ignoring it.

    in my mind, i am trying to formulate a game plan to narrow the families that i babysit for down to 1 during the major portion of the day, and 2 after school starting this fall. it has been a major struggle of mine these past few weeks, but i *think* i have decided to concentrate more on photography and my family than babysitting. this is a huge risk for me, since babysitting has been my family’s only income since my husband came back from iraq in december.

    so to make a long story short, i am going to have to weed out the things that i am willing to give up to provide myself with adequate time for my family and household duties.. i, too, am a list-maker. i may never do anything with the list, but seeing my thoughts on paper makes a HUGE difference. (and i totally understand the organized closet thing. my clothes are categorized by tops and bottoms, and then by length of sleeve or pant leg.)

  • jamie

    i adore you. this wasn’t a downer blog post. it was you in this moment. it was honest. it is now. and it’s an inspiration to me for my daily life. enjoy your thursday sweet angie!

  • http://pixelfairyprincessphotography.com Launa

    Oh how I feel the same way! I know it’s because I have been sick, but I feel like the house is falling down around me. The dust, clutter, not to mention the dishes and laundry. I haven’t had my camera out in days…..my website needs updating….the list goes on. I know this stage will be over soon and hopefully things will get back to normal….but for now I’m still trying to find a way to function in this mess! I do like the idea of your routines, I might have to try that when I’m feeling better! Thanks!

    BTW…..my daughter used to do the same thing with her pacifier! I love the photo!

  • http://whatworksformama.blogspot.com Greta @ What Works For Mama

    I just love this post…you capture my struggles so well. Plus, I love that photo! I’ve never given my son two pacifiers, but I’m sure that’s what he’d do if I did. Thanks for sharing…I love your blog!

  • mtmommy

    Thank you!!!

  • Julie

    Wow, it must be the season for disorganization and being overwhelmed. I just had a conversation like this the other day with a fellow mom. But good thing we’re all here to cheer each other on. Thank you to those like you who actually have found some creative ways to deal with the overload of stuff and share it with us, too!
    Thanks!

  • http://maneyrk@yahoo.com mrsbiscuit

    Oh, I sooo relate to this post! Sometimes I feel too overwhelmed to even do a brain dump! Ack! I find time away from the computer helps. I can waste hours on there…if I’m forced to not look at it, I’ll eventually get around to organizing my life.

  • http://www.moneywisemoms.com Gina

    Boy, did I need to hear this tonight. I’m going to go read how to do a brain dump but then turn off the computer and get some rest. Thank you!

  • http://6byHisdesign.blogspot.com Karin @ 6byHisdesign

    Ang,

    Girl! What a blessing to have you stop by my ‘place’ today – I am loving your blog and could spend DAYS perusing all your wonderfulness! I am TOTALLY gonna do the foamboard photo setup (NEVER woulda thought of that!) – and I’m feelin’ ya (as the young people say … haha) with The Overwhelming.

    May you find It again soon!
    Blessings,
    Karin

  • http://www.afamiliarpath.com melissa stover

    i just have to let things go. i have to remind myself that the house doesn’t have to be perfect. that i don’t have to have all the laundry done before i can enjoy time with my kids.

  • http://newmommyhelp.net Stacie @ newmommyhelp.net

    I can soooo relate! It’s why starting blogging about motherhood and failure today. Actually the post published before I read this, but it is so well connected. Thank you for sharing your experience and I hope it is an encouragement to others as it is for me. Even the comments above are an affirmation that we are not alone.

  • http://www.prairieprologue.blogspot.com Prairie Chick

    I haven’t visited here in awhile, and maybe have never even left a comment, but recent weeks have found me also hashing through this concept of balance, and how to stay true to What Really Matters. It is comforting, as others have said, to know that it is a common plight of women like us. Always enjoy your site.

  • http://www.simplescrapper.com Jennifer

    What you and others have said resonates so much with me. I often struggle with feeling like I can’t do enjoyable things if the to-do list is not yet completed. I’d love a cure to “always feeling behind” syndrome!

  • http://notesbyshannon.blogspot.com Shannon

    I am so glad I’ve come across your wonderful blog! This post is so relevant to my life right now. I have been at home most of the summer and am now trying to clean out and organize my apartment at school after being gone so long…quite overwhelming! I loved your routine sheets and ideas for getting back on track. Thanks so much!