Time vs No Time

 As we grow older, our perspective on time seems to change.  When I first bought my house 10 years ago, I still worked the same 40 hour week.  I still had household chores and such to do each week, and yet back then I seemed to find time to sit in the sun and read for a half hour.  I seemed to find time to do some of the things I enjoyed, like crafting, writing, or working on my photos.  

Lately, it seems that I don't take the time, or maybe I don't *make* the time to do those things.  It's like living in some kind of limbo - as if I'm waiting for something to happen.  Sure, I am still doing things; it's not like I lie on the couch eating bonbons and bingeing Netflix on my days off.  But it seems as if my priorities have shifted, or that the amount of caring I put into getting things done seems to have slipped. 

So how do we get that back??

I've tried making lists.  If I write it down somewhere in hard copy, maybe it will "guilt" me into getting something accomplished.  Like today.  I seemed to have lost my "git up and go".  Sure, the laundry got done, the grocery shopping got done, I even managed to begin repairs on a board for my patio overhang that needs to be patched and repainted.  Maybe it's the drive to get things done that's gone by the wayside?

Maybe I've taken on too much.  I know my job at work has shifted several times in the last six months, and reacting to the changes takes a lot more effort than it used to. But that's at work.  What about at home? Where has my motivation gone?  I Googled, and found a list of ideas for what to do when you've lost your drive:

• Change Your Scenery to Take Your Mind Off the Problem.
• Get Back to Basics. Remind Yourself Why You Started.
• Reset Your Focus with New (and Improved) Intentions.
• Choose to Adopt a Positive Mindset.
• Surround Yourself With Passionate People.
• Have a WTF Attitude About Everything You Do.
• Be Patient.

Not each item on the list would apply in every scenario, but admitting one's faults is usually the first step in finding a solution to correcting the problem.  I know that I can (1) lighten up on myself at work and how much I'm attempting to accomplish in any given 8 hour shift.  (2) remind myself why I need to do what needs doing and yes, (3) be patient.   Not every day off work needs to be filled with things that need to get done, so relax a bit, prioritize even, and do what's most important first, leaving a little time for things that are enjoyable.  You only get one life.  Make it count.