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SLY2 Week 1 -Slow down , Cut a time-waster
1. When and why are you rushing? Think through your day and ask yourself at what particular times you
are rushing. Getting the kids ready for school? Fixing dinner? Try to figure out what factors contribute to your rushing at
these times.Realistically, when do you think you can slow down? Are you interested in slowing down your morning? Your weekends?
In the evenings when you get home from work? Be specific.
I find myself rushing to meet deadlines, whether it is to get somewhere on time or in regard to paperwork.
I feel like I'm rushing all the time. I'm interested in slowing down everything. My mornings have a routine and things go
well. We have allotted plenty of time to get ready for the day, this works very well. Evenings are a bit less structured and
more harried. It seems that I would do much better if there was more routine/structure to my whole day. (so much for being
specific)
2. Describe some of the negative things that happen as you are rushing. For instance, think about how
you drive when you're late. Are you swearing at the other drivers? Do you snap at your kids in the car? Do you arrive at your
destination angry?
What I have found is that I get a bit snippy and I'm not very pleasant to be around. I don't even like being
around me.
Exercise 1: Choose one thing you will do more slowly this week.
I take my time when making my to do list and keep it limited to 6 do-able things.
Exercise 2. Cut down on one time-waster. Time-wasters are only making your
efforts at slowing down more difficult. This should be something small, such as: watch one less television show, let the answering
machine pick up the phone one time if you're busy doing something else.
I have cut back on my volunteer work. I have learned to say no, asked for help, and make restricted committments. Although
these are not really time-wasters, they do take up my time. This week I finished a committment and resigned from a group.
So I guess my little thing is to say "NO" and stick to it no matter how much they plead.
SLY2 Week 2 - Household and Mind Clutter
1. What is it about the clutter in your home that really bothers you? What kind of clutter can you live
with? What is it about your housekeeping practices that you want to change?
Clutter is like a pest, it's very annoying to me. It's a constant reminder that more needs to be done.(things
are out of place and need tending to.)I've been living with clutter, I'd like to be without the clutter of things. I need
to develop better routines and schedules for the household.
2. It's been seven days since I asked you to cut one time-waster out of your schedule and slow down. Write
about how it felt when you stopped doing your "one thing." Did you miss it?
It felt good to say no, there was a tad bit of guilt. But I was respected for standing my ground.I conpleted what I said
I would do and didn't take on more.I still have more outside obligations that need completeing and it feels good not to take
on more. What is missing is some stress, and I certainly don't miss that.
3. Write about how it felt when you started slowing down. When you first stopped doing that one thing,
what did you think would happen? What actually happened? Think about the next time-waster you can cut out of your schedule.
I felt free. When I said no, I thought I would have more time. But I have alot on my plate that needs work. What actually
happened is others things came into my life that needed my attention. (things that cannot be delegated) Life can be so complicated!
Time-waster, hmmm, is thinking about unfinished things. I will finish some tasks so I can stop thinking about them. One is
to clean out the radiators, so we can turn on the heat, another is to take care of some paperwork that needs to be done.
What I have accomplished has been like a great load has been lifted off my shoulders. For example: The radiators
in the kitchen are done. I'm planning on finishing the living room today. (when it comes time to turn on the heat I won't
smeel dust, ewwww!) I have some paperwork to do, too. Being prepared, makes a great difference instead of just running around
at the last minute.
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