Running With Quills: Susan wonders: Where did the time go?

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Thursday, January 11, 2007

Susan wonders: Where did the time go?

It's five pm Thursday and I just realized I've got a blog due tonight. Much swearing ensues, because I don't have a clue what to write about. Not to mention that I'm slogging through my current work in progress so sloooowly a snail just blew my hair back with its tailwind, or that I'm a tad on the anal side so I know I'll spend way too much time correcting what I do write. . .and all I really want to do is grab a book and flop on the couch for a few hours to lose myself in someone else's story.

Where does the time go? I'm not talking about the fact that I'm a couple weeks shy of my next birthday, which will put me that much closer to 60 than it does to 50. Age has never really worried me. But when I was a sweet young thing with a job and a kid and a husband and a house to clean and a yard that made me wonder what we'd been thinking to buy a corner lot, I always assumed that the older I got the more time I would have to relax.

'Scuse me while I wipe the tea I was sipping from the screen. Mustn't spew. Mustn't spew. Mustn't...

Um, where was I? Oh. Yeah.

Time really does fly. Every day seems to go faster than the day before and there are way more distraction

s than there used to be. (Can you say Internet?) I seem to have less and less time to accomplish all the things that I'd like to. And what happened to down time, to those entire days I used to wile away reading? Now I'm lucky to get in a chapter here and a chapter there. I actually like going to the gym because it means I can read for a solid hour while I work out on the ellipical machine. Whoever would have imagined that?

And when did twenty-four hours become insufficient for one day?

Please don't tell me I'm the only one dealing with this phenomenon. There must be stuff eating up your time. Right?

Am I right?

39 Comments:

Anonymous said...: Oh, yeah, you´re right. Time does fly faster each year. But there is one good thing about it. When it flys your not bored nor unhappy, at least, I´m not.
Sirry.; 11:29 PM
DFender said...: Susan,
Oy, you hit the nail right on it's damn head. When I first was divorced and the kids were 5 and 2 I thought... geez, when they're 19 and 16 I'll have SOOO much more time to get things done.

Now that I'm remarried to the HHP, our daughter is in college and our son a sophomore in high school it seems the opposite has occurred! I have way LESS time! How'd that happen? Oh yeah. Running errands for the busy college/working girl, sports practices and games/matches with the boychild, homework, work, housework...arggghhh!

shrug I dunno when it happened, I just wish it would slow down a little! Well, hey, at least I don't feel alone, right? LOL

Happy weekend-ing!
Deb; 3:24 AM
AgTigress said...: There is a very simple rational explanation. The older you get, each year (or month, or decade) represents a smaller proportion of your whole life. Five years is half of your life to date when you are ten: when you are 50, it's only a tenth. That's why a year seems a very long time to a child, and a mere blink of an eye to a mature person.

This reminds me of another comforting reflection. We all worry about getting forgetful as we age, but the older one is, the more STUFF one has in one's head (as well as in one's house). The mental retrieval system has to be much better for a person to put their finger on the exact bit of information they want from the accumulated memories of sixty years than when they have only twenty years' worth to rummage through.

That's my story, anyway.

:-); 4:07 AM
Anonymous said...: I spend every day looking for a few extra hours! I have two kids in the carpool age, and with work, house, husband, dog, etc.,...my reading time has dwindled to sitting in the car waiting for music lessons to finish or at the orthodonist's office. I haven't figured out how to read a book while walking the dog.

One of my biggest complaints as a girl scout leader has been hearing from other parents that they have "no time" to help. I don't know anyone with extra time these days.

This is a topic I could complain about for hours - so I'll quit now.

But no, Susan, you are not alone!

Carolyn; 4:56 AM
ashefrog said...: Must be the new year cause this has been the topic of several conversations I have had over the last couple of weeks.

I agree with agtigress.

My Mom who retired 3 years ago says she doesn't know how she got everything done when she was working because she can't seem to get it all done now that she has all day. She complains that her TBR pile keeps growing and she thought she would have so much more time for reading when she retired. Now feels like if she picks up a book she will put off doing what she needs to do and get that much further behind.

One of my New Year Resolutions is to make more time for myself. Well here it is the 12 and I haven't figured out how to do that yet without paying for it later.

No, Susan you are not alone.; 5:43 AM
nellsquirrel said...: I finally figured out over the past year that we do this to ourselves... now if I can figure out how to STOP doing this!

Actually, I've finally learned that the word "no" is a really useful thing. Turning off the computer and not answering the phone helps too.; 6:55 AM
Linda said...: I also retired several years ago. I too thought I would have so much time to read, paint and do needlework, the things I was always longing to do when I was working. Well, I can't say that I haven't had more time for these things than before. But, I never have enough time to do all that I think I should.

I also agree with agtigress about the relevant speed of time based on where in your life cycle you are. Although I also believe that as we age, our life "to do" lists keep on getting longer. It's a cumulative phenomenon. We never seem to have enough time in a day, a week or a year to get everything done so the list keeps growing. And the pressure to budget time to accomplish it all increases.

The one thing that age has given me is a better perspective on the relevant importance of the things on that list. People become more important and things less so.; 7:06 AM
Anonymous said...: Oh my gosh, i was reading ashefrog's comment and all i could think was my to be read and watched pile get larger every year.

i always say that my breaks are the perfect time for getting to them, but i spend all my time going out and seeing all the people i didn't have time for during the semester (sorry, i have a tendency to take more classes than there is time to study for and hang out with people)

the sad thing is that there is always someone, something, and somewhere else that i need to be at the same exact time.

one day, i'm going to figure out how to fit everything in.
in my dreams, anyways

anita; 7:11 AM
KathyK said...: The tigress is right, I think, about why we perceive time so differently as children compared to adults. Also, children have only a few items to accomplish, the najor one of which is "how to get my own way and buffalo the parents." Whereas parents have an amazing number of things to organize and other people's need to consider. Every now and again we need to reassess our priorities and try to escape the tyranny of the urgent in order to accomplish the really important. Some issues I thought were absolutely critical as a younger woman have become less so. Some I have given up on entirely. Others, I realize, are more important that I first thought and require even more attention. I would image that, especially for a writer or other creative person, it is very important to have some time for reflection and letting the juices stew. It may appear to the observer as though you aren't working, but after this interval work can proceed briskly. We often feel guilty for not fulfulling our own expectations of what we ought to be doing, for example, laundry. But perhaps there is another way the task can be done to free you from that burden.; 7:11 AM
Lynn said...: I find it odd that time does fly quickly, but sometimes individual days just simply draaaaaaaaag. Take this morning for instance, how in heaven's name is it not yet noon? I have been slaving away for what feels like days and still it is not time for lunch. Before heading in to work this morning I was able to carve out 20 minutes to read a couple chapters of a new book and it went by in a blink.

No, it's not that I am fixating on food (not this time anyway), but I find time passing often depends on what I'm doing, if I really want to do it, and/or how involved I am in the task at hand.; 8:44 AM
elizabeth said...: I hear you, sistah!

Yes, I also believed that getting older meant getting slower--or at least more relaxed, having more time off, garden clubs (wipe your screen), etc.

Wish I could tell you it will change, that you'll find time slowing down.

It gets worse, not better. *sighs*; 8:58 AM
Stella said...: Tigress--How very logical:)

Susan--How right you are. These days are getting sucked away by some evil hour-eating demon hell (!) bent on making sure I never, ever, catch up.

I do think the Internet is a minion of this devil, probably his prime general.

Why do I suddenly remember The Screwtape Letters? Ooh, another potential time-swallower--I think I'll read that yet again.

Cheers, Stella

Ann--thanks for the words of encouragement!; 9:51 AM
Pia said...: Susan,

I hear you and I completely agree with you.

When we lived in New York, everyone was in a hurry but I noticed that I accomplished a lot in a day. 4 years ago, when we moved to the Pacific Northwest, hubby and I admired how people pace their lives and their time, but, in a day less things get done for me.

As for distrations, yes I have many - tv, the ineternet, xbox 360, sony psp and 3 very cute puppies (an Ori Pei, a female dear type Chihuahua and my favorite a teacup 2 lb. Chihuahua) to name a few.; 9:53 AM
Karibear said...: Time is like a rubberband, for me anyway. I KNOW I was pregnant just a few months ago - I remember it just like yesterday. But the results of those pregnancies are 34 and 32 now. What happened?!

Back when I was in high school, I couldn't imagine being as 'old' as 30, and I can't believe how much time I wasted working on the perfect tan [I did read at the same time, though]. Now I'm in my 60s. What HAPPENED?!

I used to live on the back of a lovely lake, and the house was a mile from where we parked. I took the kids and went whenever and wherever I wanted. Now that I have bus service to the front door, I have to plan my trips [of just a few miles, with no kids in a backpack carrier] days in advance, because I know how exhausted I'll be when I get home. What happened to that energetic young person I once was?

I think my rubberband is slipping just a bit and beginning to wear out. And I wouldn't have missed a single second of it.; 9:54 AM
Ladytink_534 said...: I just turned 20 and it seems that the older I've gotten the faster time has flew. I know most people say their early twenties just flew by for them but my teenage years just flew by for me. I mean I was only 17 last month it seems. When someone asks me my age I actually have to think about it (this happened at the airport the other day) because I automatically want to say 17 or 18. It's really odd how time just slips by without you noticing.; 10:10 AM
Gram said...: I agree with ashefrog and Linda....I had this big list of "things to do when I retire" that I kept for many years of not having enough time, kids, school, work, etc. Now that I am retired the list keeps getting longer, not shorter and so does my t-b-r list. They say you find time for what you really want to do---do not believe them...Life chores take up much of the time so let's try to enjoy whatever we are doing as we do it. I am thinking of getting a clip on light for the treadmill so I can read then. My t-b-r list still will not get shorter because all you ladies and others keep writing books I want to read.; 11:49 AM
Jayne Ann Krentz said...: Guess there's a fine line between feeling actively involved in living your life and getting stressed out. I have the distinction of being one of the few people on the face of the earth who actually flunked out of a yoga class. I was fine with the exercises and the stretches but the ten minutes of quiet meditation at the end of each class drove me nuts with sheer boredom. What does that say about me? Not sure I want to know.

--Jayne; 12:30 PM
Lou said...: I think that it is the evolution of technology that creates the "speeded up" effect. When folks communicated by letter carried by Pony Express and ships, they had to wait for an answer. Now, with computers, email, instance messaging, etc., there is no time to take a deep breath before an answer is required and/or a decision made.

There are also, due to technology, more interesting things to do. Before electric lights, people generally went to bed when the sun went down. Now, if we didn't need sleep to stay sane, we could easily fill our time 24/7.

As for families, they used to be consumed by the common goal of staying alive, tending the animals, and gathering enough food. Now, everyone has their own activities (and work) and the younger members must be ferried to said activities. Makes a person wonder how we all manage to accomplish as much as we do!!

I also agree with what Tigress said - especially about the memory part. I plan to use that excuse from now on.; 1:09 PM
Toni Anderson said...: I seem to remember reading research that suggested as you get older your brain actually changes and time really does seem to go faster--you know? To a child a day stretches like a long gaping adventure to fill. As an adult it is just a list of responsibilities? I must look that stuff up again--when I get time :); 1:55 PM
Karibear said...: Heh. I also flunked out of yoga. In my case, it was two different things. First and most frustrating to me, was that we were supposed to fast for 24 hours before the class - and the class was upstairs over a wonderful little bakery on Queen Anne Hill. I simply could not concentrate with all the wonderful smells drifting up through the floor. Second and most frustrating for the instructor, was her insistence that I really didn’t NEED glasses, it was all a mind over matter thing - never mind that I was so nearsighted I couldn’t see my hand in front of my face without either glasses or contacts. She finally asked me to stop coming, because I just didn’t have the ‘right attitude’ and was disruptive to the rest of the class! [Actually, the bakery was the disruption, but I didn’t tell her that.]; 3:21 PM
Louis said...: Tempus Fidgets....

Or however it's spelled....I know The Tigress will correct the spelling.

I've been retired for several years now...need a 48 hour day to get everything accomplished that I want to do.

Our DD will soon turn the big 50...seems like yesterday she was starting school.

On memory....just takes longer to get that elusive fact.

Good blog, Susan; 5:28 PM
spyscribbler said...: Wow, I just blogged on this very topic, and I swear it wasn't a copy cat! I was inspired by this article on procrastination.

I remember when I used to read a book a day. Where did I find the time? I'm struggling to read one or two books a week now! I must find more time!; 6:31 PM
Ranurgis said...: Yep, Susan, you're right. Actually I should be doing some more packing and sorting for my move. I just finished relocating some of the boxes I already have upstairs so that the carpet cleaners are unimpeded in their cleaning tomorrow. At least, they'd better get here tomorrow.

So between that and the "freezing" computer, I'm more frustrated than doing things. I thought I'd be a lot further ahead but 2 days this week were a total washout since I wasn't feeling well at all. I've got 18 days to move and the deadline is coming alarmingly close. Why *does* time have to fly? I believe Elizabeth, I think, was perfectly right about her measure of time. As children a year seems so long because our memories are still few. Now the years go rushing by and I'm just praying that the next 16 months will be much, much better than the last 16. I felt I barely survived those other than the fact that with advancing age, I, at least, am really slowing down.; 7:46 PM
Ranurgis said...: Lou,

I was just thinking the same you said while I was writing about communicating. I feel badly about not answering a friend's e-mail right away. Then she feels she has to answer me immediately and...

You get the point and you've probably had it happen to you. I just got some pictures from a friend in Hong Kong, some that she wanted me to have hard copies of by snail mail. So when I thank her by e-mail, I hope she doesn't answer me right away because I'm not sure that I'll have anything more to communicate to her that quickly again. Oh yeah, this is one of my "gold" friends. I've known her, dare I say it, for 38 years when we met at university.

For one thing, I definitely have to do something about my constant fatigue. That is really eating away at my time as well.

If anybody comes up with sure-fire solutions, please post them.; 8:01 PM
Pia said...: I truly enjoy reading your posts on this topic as I can relate to them.

The other day a frustrated friend called me and asked why I did not return her call, at first I thought of how impatient she was since it was yesterday that she left that message until she told me that she left it more than a week ago. I remember checking my voicemail, but, was that already a week ago? Yaiks!

Lately, what I have been doing is the moment I wake up I pray, I pray for a productive day. That even just until 2:30, Regis and Kelly, Tyra, Ellen, Frasier, Spin City or whoever got Punk'd would not tempt me to turn on the TV and to just make me finish my daily goals. The night before, I write down whatever I need to do for the next day, and so far, it has helped me a lot but with some exemptions like the recent snow storm and the unexpected drop in temperature, still so far so good - I hope.; 10:03 PM
DFender said...: HAHAHA... flunking yoga. Me too! Meditating, or dhyana, escaped me... it still does. I concentrate so hard to think about nothing that I keep thinking! Okay. Either that or I fell asleep. Geez.

Deb; 10:22 PM
Karibear said...: ranurgis:
I also experience extreme and chronic fatigue. One of the causes is severe anemia, so if you haven’t checked that out with your doc, it’s worth a try. IV iron supplements didn’t do ME any good, but they apparently work miracles for some people. Otherwise, I’ve totally rescheduled what I do each day and take it into consideration. I used to zip through any housework first thing, now I scatter the more physical things through the day - like I cook dinner at 5 or 6 and we eat when it’s done. But I don’t do the dishes immediately, they can wait until 10 or 11. Some things, like taking the trash to the curb, have to be done at a certain time, so I take that into consideration, too. Other things, like putting away groceries, can be done over the day - except for frozen/refrigerated things, which do get put away immediately. But cans and boxes sit quite happily and every time I go by to do something else, I put a few away, and by the end of the day it’s all finished. For me, I know what has to be done, I just prioritize what’s needed and change the order of the doing.; 9:57 AM
Ranurgis said...: Karibear and Pia, you both have good ideas that I should incorporate into my day, especially the morning prayer.

I know I don't have anemia because the doctor keeps checking me for it at least once a year. I have fibromyalgia of which chronic fatigue can be a big component. But I did have anemia for a while just after we left Germany to come to Canada when I was 7, well that's when it was discovered.

The way my present apartment is set up, I really have no place to put my stray groceries because the kitchen is the entry into the apartment. That's why I'm so eager to move upstairs into a better setup and I'll have an extra room where I won't constantly be dealing with the clutter of last year's move. It's hazardous just getting to the door when and if someone knocks. Lately I've thought I had someone knocking but by the time I get there, there's nobody to be seen anywhere. Very frustrating.

Today some carpet cleaners for whom the landlord arranged to come did not show up and I stayed home all day for them. (EST) That's how my life seems to be: a continuum of broken promises on my part as well as others'. And I'm even supposed to pay for the carpet cleaning. The two bedrooms really need it though.

Combine all that with the wonky computer and, well, I'm not a very happy camper: I'm very stressed out.

But thanks to each of you for your words of advice and encouragement. I'll certainly keep them in mind--I hope.

BTW, I know that iron supplements can be very iffy. I'm just trying to remember what makes it so. Under certain conditions, it just can't be absorbed well by the blood. I should try to remember or find out why.

My biggest problem with writing things down is that I lose the paper almost as soon as I write something on it. That's why I'm hoping so much to get rid of some of the clutter before I move upstairs.; 4:14 PM
Karibear said...: I shouldn't have said the iron didn't do me any good - it did help the anemia, it just didn't do anything regarding the fatigue. I can't take the pills, they come right back up. I couldn't even take the pregnancy vitamins 35 years ago - and I can't even stand the smell of some of the iron-rich foods. I'd have to be literally starving before I'd even try to eat cooked spinach, for instance, no matter what Popeye said!; 4:29 PM
therese said...: Time is so weird, when I stopped wearing a watch and trusted that I would be aware of time via computer clock, dashboard clock and the constant disruptions that happened on time everyday, I slowly but surely had more time. Maybe there's something to the concept about having more time, the less we are ruled by time. Or maybe I've just been retired too young and will suddenly love being trapped in the time warp again.

Time will tell, I'll let you know.
I love this blog....; 11:25 PM
Carrie from Wisconsin said...: Please don't tell me I'm the only one dealing with this phenomenon. There must be stuff eating up your time. Right?

Am I right?

Definitely so! In a few weeks it will be the last 9 credits of my degree, but currently it's pain. Yep, pain eats up most of my time. I do some dishes, sit down in the recliner and wait for the pain to subside. 30-60minutes later I wash some more and then rest some more. It doesn't matter what I do, I still find I must rest from time to time. This computer chair maybe better than what we had before, but my back still cannot handle it. I did find a unique solution when I wanted to write, I sat down at the kitchen table. That chair seems to help. It may not be perfect, but it is the best of the bunch and I find I can write a number of pages before I need to actually get up and find something else to do. I did, however, find time to read an entire book between last night(Friday to Saturday) and today(Saturday). I was ready to start reading the next book on my list or work on one of my stories but I didn't let myself start until I did some cleaning. I used to love cleaning, but now it seems like it takes so much time to do the simplest thing that I would rather leave it go for something easier to do. In that sense, there is never enough time in a day!

It's funny, I am going to have a degree in English with an emphasis on professional and technical writing, but not sure exactly what I'll do when I am finished with school. I think I might teach, then I can have the summers off. I'm just not sure. Any ideas out there?

Carrie; 12:46 AM
elizabeth said...: Carrie--in these days of computers, technical writing is often done "off site." If you could take work on a contract basis and work out of your house, you could follow the schedule demanded by your body rather than by someone's clock.

If your university/college/whatever has a job aid dept., ask them for help. If such a thing doesn't exist, ask one of your professors.

If that doesn't work, go online and Google "technical writing wanted" and see what turns up.

Good luck! We all need that. :-); 9:05 AM
Karibear said...: Another aspect of technical writing you could consider is grant writing [though I'm not sure, it may be a specialty outside of it's own now]. I used to be very good at it and the proposals I wrote worked, but I always did it for the agencies I worked for, so it wasn't my primary source of income. I knew of several successful grant writers who did support themselves quite well that way, back in the early days of the internet. Should be much easier now in many ways. If nothing else, you could volunteer to do so for your favorite non-profit or rescue group, just to try it out while you decide what your ultimate goal is.; 9:29 AM
Ranurgis said...: One site that I find interesting is "Freelance Work Exchange". I haven't done anything about it because I'm in the middle of moving but some of the work looks promising. Some of it is just typing up notes and things like that, others involve writing up grants, etc.

By the number of e-mails I get I'd say that there's quite a bit of work available. If you find any other good sites, please let me know. I'm trying to find proofreading and editing jobs once I'm settled somewhat in my new quarters. I'm battling a lot of pain too so I can relate. Especially my right hand and whole arm to the back are a mess--have been for almost the last 40 years. The left side isn't quite as bad but it isn't good either.; 10:49 AM
Anonymous said...: ranurgis--
you may want to Google Freelance Work Exchange before you sign up--From what I've read, it seems to be mainly a ripoff. I've never signed up, so I don't know for sure....

Mary; 11:15 AM
Carrie from Wisconsin said...: Thanks for the advice! I'm always skeptical about Internet searches in terms of work. It helps to have someone else's point of view and benefit from their experience. In regards to Mary's comment to ranurgis about that website, I am never sure of how to tell if something is legitimate or not. Any hints about how to tell if something is legit?

Much of the job stuff I have been hearing about from our CDC department hasn't had much to do with writing and have been regular, on site type of jobs. I guess I need to dig a little deeper.

I also have a minor in Electrical Engineering. Could that actually factor in?

Carrie; 10:23 PM
Anonymous said...: Carrie, I write technical manuals, web stuff, etc., for a manufacturing firm. So yes, any sort of engineering background would be a huge plus for techncial writing.

I do my work freelance; once you've established yourself, word-of-mouth seems to be a great way to get new jobs. And I do my work at home, with one trip a week to the company for which I'm doing work.

If you're interested in freelance work in your area, get directories of all the companies in your area. Send anyone who could possibly use techical writing services a brochure of what you offer. Follow up with a phone call. Anyone that creates a product usually needs some sort of user guide to go with it. In general, most of these companies don't want to pay someone full time to do their writing but are willing to contract someone. Also, the software industry is a HUGE source of jobs for technical writers. Check CRAIGSLIST if it's in your area. Let all your friends and relatives know what you are trying to do and follow up their leads.

Sorry; I sound like I'm in job placement sales. I'm sure you've heard a lot of this before. I really enjoy techncial writing, though, and if that's the way you choose to go, good luck with it!; 6:14 AM
Ranurgis said...: Yeah, I know some are. I haven't checked Freelance yet but I will before I take any chance on them. Most of the stuff really isn't what I'm looking for anyway. A lot requires fast typing skills which is not my forte by any means. I do use the 10 finger system but most of the time my fingers hurt so badly that I can only manage to crawl along and sometimes not even that.

It will take a number of weeks still before I can really get into finding a job and job source. I suppose I could try to find technical stuff to write but I'd prefer other things like novels, news articles, etc.

But thanks for the tip about Freelance Work Exchange.; 10:18 PM
Carrie from Wisconsin said...: Hey anonymous,

Thanks for the tips and no, I haven't heard any what you spoke about, except for the word-of-mouth part. The brochure is a great idea. That is something that hasn't been mentioned in previous courses I have taken. I will have to work on one. Great tips by the way! Even if I may have heard them before, it's still great to hear them from another source. It means that the words ring true!

Carrie; 7:36 AM

Previous Posts

Thursday, January 11, 2007

Susan wonders: Where did the time go?

39 Comments: