How do really busy people do it?

[HeyWayne]

I don't consider myself to be one of life's busy people - I get to bed at a reasonable time, I wake at a reasonable time, but the bits in between seem relentless.

Had a week at Centre Parcs last week and I am shattered - it was non stop.

Been back a couple of days and I'm already in need of a break.

Whilst at CP LadyWayne and I booked in for "treatments" whilst the grandparents and LW's bro, fiancee and baby stayed back at the ranch.

I had a massage, and the lady said I felt very tense - my back is knotted to pieces (I know this already), but it now feels worse than ever. She suggested I might want to have a massage more regularly - I don't know when I'd fit it in!

I'm seemingly too busy to even put a straight train of thought together (as you may have sensed).

Took my Blackberry with me to deal with urgent emails (I have a 324 page price list to have ready for week 1, and a winter promotion to get sorted), so there is hopefully less to deal with tomorrow.

I'm booked in to a 3 day first aid course (I somewhat naively thought it would be a day course).

I have to interview for a website administrator over the next week or two (my web manager left on Friday).

Put all the Christmas lights up today - having bought our first real Christmas tree today.

I haven't been to the plot for a couple of weeks now!

Still have some presents to buy - plus I'm in the Secret Santa at work now.

Works Christmas do on Friday.

LadyWayne's Christmas do the week after.

"Pre Christmas" dinner for friends on the 19th.

New oven being delivered/installed on the 15th.

Christmas at our house this year - my family on Christmas Day, and the outlaws on Boxing Day.

I'm sure I've forgotten something.

Sorry, just unloading into the ether.

Oh, and Bean is currently "on it" - one relentless bundle of energy from 5am (ish) until 7pm (ish).

Wouldn't change a thing though.

[Pumpkin Becki]

Dude, I know just what you mean (except for the small child and interviewing bit though ).

I came back from my Grapestock/holiday feeling like I needed another one straight away.

Life has been relentless ever since, with one drama after another (personal and work related).

I've got to entertain the new wife of our Chinese factory's MD for three days this month (she doesn't really speak English and I know zero Chinese)

The Christmas socialness has begun already

Oh yeah, and I still have 8 1/2 days holiday to take before Christmas...I don't think so!

...roll on January maybe then I can have a rest

[Two_Sheds]

You're juggling a lot of tasks at once - sure you're not a woman?

[binley100]

They always say if you want something doing then ask a busy person .....

[Glutton4...]

Keep at it Big Fella - it makes up for the lazy b*ggers who can't do anything - ie: ME!

[zazen999]

Hint:

Wayne - when you are interviewing for that web master....make sure that you are also interviewing for your number 2....someone to take some of the tasks off you.

Meanwhile - you need a good calendar, and 'to do list' and a very good read of the 7 habits of highly effective people....seriously - changed my life - esp the time management bit. This was when I had inherited a team, 5 failing projects and half the staff didn't like the fact they had to do some 'actual work' and left....leaving me 7/18 staff short....so you have to start managing your time very effectively when the brown stuff hits the fan.

[piskieinboots]

If it's important it will get done - if it isn't it won't

[Patchninja]

First thing is to take a deep breath.
If you've got time to come on here, things aren't that bad!!!
I'm supposing that LadyWayne cooks so will be sorting a lot of Xmas and boxing day out.
Try giving bean a small hoover and use a little child labour!!!
Apart from that, try not to scream too loud and be brave!

[jackie j]

My Wayne you really have your work cut out dont you.
Try to make time for you and LW.

I am lucky that I only work part time, only three of us at home now, how on earth I managed when there was 7 of us I'll never know. 5 kids to get here there and everywhere, work, committee's etc, etc, etc. Although i only had four kids at the time maybe thats why my first marriage broke up after 18 years, I was too busy.

When my sister was Ill I took a long hard look at life and thats when I decided to drop most of my hours at work to be able to look after her. I was then looking after two homes and still on committee's, working part time and got a lottie, how the chuff ???

Good luck and relax as much as you can.

[HeyWayne]

Hint:

Wayne - when you are interviewing for that web master....make sure that you are also interviewing for your number 2....someone to take some of the tasks off you.

Meanwhile - you need a good calendar, and 'to do list' and a very good read of the 7 habits of highly effective people....seriously - changed my life - esp the time management bit. This was when I had inherited a team, 5 failing projects and half the staff didn't like the fact they had to do some 'actual work' and left....leaving me 7/18 staff short....so you have to start managing your time very effectively when the brown stuff hits the fan.

I'll have a butchers at that cheers luvee. You're very close to the actual problem (as is pisk below).

When I took on this job it was clear that there is too much going on for one person to manage effectively.

4 business channels, each with multiple initiatives and promotions etc, lots of contacts for each and stuff all over the place. Example, we had 5 printers (companies, not desktop jobbies) that worked for us, all printing different things - two printers printing our business cards for example. Madniss - I've now started rationalisation and we are now using a print management company - one contact for all our print requirements.

I was also being chased on a daily basis for advertising copy - from various contacts, sometimes within the same publishing house. Bonkers. I've put a stop to all advertising until we have a proper plan, and schedule that is much easier to manage.

There is also a lot of artwork that has been generated in house - fine if you have the time to do that, but when we can pay as little as £22 per page for artwork creation - pay someone else to do iot in half the time with 10% of the effort.

I'm currently proof reading our 300 odd page price list - which is a mammoth task, but by the time the next one is being put together I will have a spreadsheet to organise all the changes much easier rather than the piece meal way it's done currently.

Was it D'Reem that sang it?!

If it's important it will get done - if it isn't it won't

Oh, and Christmas dinner/cooking in our house is a joint venture.

Better than when I was sat twiddling my thumbs at the last place.

[Glutton4...]

Wot!? Thiiiiiiings can only get better!

I'm beginning to think, having read all that last post of yours, Wayne, that you are actually a Woman! Shame we're not nearer - I'd come over and say; "Gis a job!"

[Bagpuss]

Microsoft task list and a good diary is my answer.
Mr BP and I have a joint diary which we look through every Sunday to see what's coming up in the next week, and we book weekends in for just the two of us (sounds terrible doesn't it). It really does help us, and reduces the impact of some of the crazy work hours.

[taff]

sounds like my life all through this year minus a bean...the last couple of months I just....stopped...now I have to rev up again and find it really difficult to do the simplest things, so you have my sympathies, but the answer is busy people do it because they just do.
and organising in advance is essential.

[Creemteez]

You've all got to learn to say, " No, I'm sorry, but I won't be able to do that!"

[di]

I'm a total crap Mum and wife so wouldn't know...sorry!x