Workaholism

My name is Jeanie and I have tendencies towards workaholism.

I have tried to cure myself of it in the past.

When I first worked in the advertising industry, I often worked 16 hour days, learned the security code by heart, had my own taxi-driver and made coffee for the big boss every morning - as I was already there, it made sense.

I once worked 36 hours straight because a report was required.

I blamed the industry I was in, so I changed industries.

Workaholism came with me.

Since having 'Salina, I have worked (ha ha) hard to overcome the tendency.

When I was a sole parent, this was forcibly easier as the choice was 'Salina/work (although there were times when the sleep/work equation was harder).

Recently, economic circumstances and having an extra parent has meant that the choice between 'Salina and work had other factors, and I didn't feel as much guilt saying yes to a bit more work - and a bit more work.

The last two and a half weeks, I have worked a full-time job as well as for my clients. I love doing work for my clients. I love the job I was doing during the day.

I had to say yes to the full-time job, because the person I am filling in for had a very good reason to not be there for that time.

I had to say yes to all the little tasks of my clients because I want them to stay my clients.

I started work at 6 and would do an hour or two at home, before doing 8 hours at work then back for another little bit at home.

Sleep lost a little. V lost a little. 'Salina lost a little.

But hooray - the full-time component has wrapped up!!

Of course, the next few days I am trying to catch up on the runaround things I missed (couldn't say no to P&C, couldn't say no to filling forms and visiting various government offices), and so there is a very aptly named public holiday on Monday - Labour Day - where I think I will have wiped the slate.

I missed all of you - I have visited few and very rarely of late.

The money is good - very welcome indeed - but the sanity is required.

Balance is needed.

I - the I I was before being sucked back into the workaholism vortex - will be back soon, I hope.

Why I need to postpone...

I was flat out from 4.30 this morning - billed a few hours before going in to my other job, where there are 1500 28 page directories to be printed and folded (on a shared printer) AS WELL AS 5 different flyers to be printed and guillotined (1500 copies of each - some 2 to a page, some 4, some 8) AS WELL AS create an online newletter AND collate stats and surveys into a document for a federal department by Wednesday (thank goodness the girl who I am sitting in for is on leave for health reasons and totally bored at home who did some of that for me today) - oh, and having to move my car every 2 hours to avoid a parking ticket as I was late to work because V had an assignment due today and mine is the only computer that can print at the moment but doesn't have the software that V used - that was fun. My boss did take me out for coffee at 4, and then I left that job and went to a client's place who COMPLETELY stuffed up earlier this year and we are still trying to untagle that in each reconciliation and she needs it sorted to get her GST sorted for the quarter - soooo...

I got home at 1/4 to 7, to a glass of wine presented by my daughter, dinner cooked for me by her and V, a cake they had bought and decorated, opened presents and got many texts and phone calls, saw lovely messages here and other internet portals, a lovely bath and good evening.

Even though it got great by the end, I am still going to do something on a day of my choosing as my day got taken away!!

Can we postpone?

Last week was busy.

Last week was working full-time, fitting my clients in around the edges, spending quality time with V and sleeping the other 30 odd minutes.

This week is BUSY.

This week is working full-time (where the workload has suddenly gone OUT OF CONTROL), fitting my clients in around the edges (actually, sort of puffing over the edges), spending quality time with 'Salina and sleeping the other 30 odd minutes. V is finishing an assignment, so he doesn't appreciate the quality of time offered as he quickly fills it with trusses, moments and sines - I am assured I can save his quality time until he can appreciate it more. Which is good, because I like that sleep in the other 25 odd minutes.

Therefore, I am proposing moving anything that doesn't fit into my schedule back a bit - I am thinking by about 40 days - so how is the 12th of June looking?

Today brings renewed joy

Today, I awoke at my usual "oh look, I should be still asleep" o'clock and tried out my 20 minute rule.

So, as usual, I was up by 1/4 to 4 and cracking.

I did a couple of hours work and sent out my invoices for the week.

I saw the sunrise (well, lighten - too much development to appreciate the orb transit).

I contemplated my day and smiled.

Because today we are going here:


(well, down behind the hill on the far right where the showgrounds are!)
(oh - please note it will be much greener today than that - there has been rain!)

We will see family members.

And I get to see my gorgeous daughter after 6 days of her absense.

I missed her sooooooo much.

I know I mentioned appreciating her gone so I could cook curry - but I can always make two dishes.

It has been handy having access to her (my old) computer at crack of dawn so I can do the full-time work and my own work around the edges - this will go on for another 10 days (celebration on the 30th!!) but we will manage.

The silver lining

The day started a tad early to my liking.

3am, and my mind, seeing a chink in my consciousness, whirred into overdrive.

Every time sane me would plea "more sleep please" it would take a tangent and weave an elaborate list of what I should do, what I need to do, how much I need to do it and why.

At 3.11 I warmed some milk and begged for just a nap before I have to emerge from slumber.

At 3.19 my mind was still harping and carping - it blogged, it boasted of the beauty of what I could do should I rise, I cursed and it sang with "get up" tunes and threatened to drive me insane.

At 3.23 it took a different tack, and pondered on the placement of the cat, somehow making philosophy out of the furball's desire to sleep on my feet - lucky Eddie.

At 3.29 I tossed and turned, trying to switch off. Then I gave up.

Therefore I have been up already 3 hours - not a great deal to show for it, true, but while the world of people slumbered I stumbled around some of my internet haunts, sorted my home-based workload and started that doggarned list.

And then I looked outside.

The clouds were the most amazing range of reds and pinks. There was a rainbow adorning the Western sky. Two kangaroos were grazing in the park across the road. The birds began their morning song.

And I realised that there was one more thing to add to my list this morning - counting my blessings.

And really, even the early waking was a blessing - who knows how much I would have missed otherwise?