When the storms come, we must have the ability and the willingness to change or compromise our plans for the upcoming day or longer.
My husband is now recovering from a cancer. The radiation has made it very difficulty to swallow much food and so we are doing tube feedings for nutrition 5 times a day. This means both of us have had to adjust our schedules accordingly and this has not been easy. This will be temporary and in time the tube feedings will diminish and finally be a thing of the past.
Usually we don’t have such big things that change our day to day life, but frequently little things can require flexibility if we don’t want to become upset or stressed. Almost weekly, I have some client that needs to change their appointment with me. Almost always it is a very good reason. Sometimes it is just because of their lack of planning but then again that might be something the client and I are working on. The bottom line is that my day’s schedule must now be changed. I have the choice of what to do with that “found” time. I can choose to write. I can also choose to read. I can work on a project. What I don’t want to do is squander this time.
Most of us have had to deal with such schedule changes due to a car not working, power outage, broken appliances, colds and other illnesses. Instead of stressing about the situation, look for a way to use that time. I find it helpful to have a list of tasks with an idea of how long that task will take. If I only have 15 minutes, I can clean out a drawer or take a short walk. If I have 30 minutes I can work on a blog or read.
The key point is that when events disrupt our lives, routines, and schedules, don’t shut down. Practice flexibility. Discover other directions and not squander this time.
Jonda S. Beattie Professional Organizer
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