It's getting very close to that time of year when I give serious thought to a few things. That would include how this year went overall. What I succeeded at. Areas that need improvement. Any changes that occurred throughout the year that altered things. Then, I think about the new year. Goals. Making adjustments to my schedule. What I need to do in order to get from point A to point B. Addressing things I slacked on this year so it doesn't happen again next year.
One of the biggest changes this year has been Lisa's schedule. She was promoted to Assistant Department Manager the first week of June. Prior to that, she held the Transportation Coordinator position. Her hours were 6 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Occasionally, she'd have to work late. That had been her schedule for years.
Now, her hours have extended now that she's in management. Sometimes Lisa goes in early. Most days, she gets home between 4 and 6 p.m. Often times, she works 10-12 hour days.
I knew her hours would be all over the charts and there would be late days and early ins. As always, I was fully supportive. I still am. My attitude was, and still is, "Whatever it takes. We've got this..."
However...
I didn't realize how much the change in schedule would affect our kids and the impact it would have on my daily schedule. I wasn't prepared.
In the months to follow, it's become very apparent that this is one area I seriously need to work on before the new year starts.
I'd actually like to have a firm grip on it before then.
Prior to Lisa's promotion, most days she'd be home by 3. Sometimes, she'd get out earlier. That meant I had help during the noisiest part of the day which is between 2:30 and 3:00 when the neighborhood human kids get home from school.
During this time, Lisa would take care of the kids while I finished up with work stuff. And, if there was something I couldn't get to during the day, like dishes, vacuuming, or meal prep for the kids and us, she'd help out. We'd also give the kids their afternoon snack together.
In addition, 1-2 hours would be put aside for me to nap. This was important. I stay up on the overnight to get a lot of my writing stuff done for work. There are very few distractions during the overnight hours. I would also get "quiet" housework done and do a little baking.
These naps were crucial. I don't crawl into bed until after Lisa gets up for work at 3:30. I usually doze off around 5 a.m. and my alarm goes off at 8 a.m. About 95% of the time, I don't sleep sound during those 3 hours for one reason or another.
Getting up to pee. Outside noises that make the kids bark. Lobo getting off the bed and whining to get back up. Noise. Etc.
I depended on those almost-daily 1-2 hour naps to get me through the overnight. While I napped, Lisa sat in the living room with the kids. They loved that time with her and it kept them occupied and content while I took a short snooze. The kids were also more apt not to bark at the excessive surrounding noises.
Since Lisa's promotion, all of that has changed. The kids get restless when Lisa doesn't walk through the door by 3. They go crazy when the neighborhood human kids get home from school especially when there is excessive noise. They're distracted when I give them an afternoon snack.
I also don't have a helping hand during this time. This translates to my work day ending right around 2:30. At that point, I tackle housework, prep dinner for the kids and us, and I make sure there's nothing left to do when Lisa gets home.
The hardest part has been not getting a 1-2 hour nap to get me through the overnight hours. Over the last few months, I've been dozing off on the overnight. I've dozed off while writing blog columns and sitting at the table. This has greatly reduced the amount of work I've been able to get done.
I'm not complaining. It is what it is. Life changes. Schedules changes. Lisa and I both do what's best for our family and work around that. I view Lisa's unpredictable schedule as a challenge and I'm always up for a good challenge.
That challenge will be adjusting my sleep schedule accordingly so I can utilize my work time during the day and on the overnight more efficiently. Maybe that entails conquering the work stuff during the day that doesn't require being completely focused. I may have to work at my desk on the overnight to prevent dozing off. I may even have to set my alarm for 10 a.m. instead of 8 a.m. Those extra 2 hours of sleep would be enough to get me through the overnight.
At this point, I don't know...
What I do know is that I need to make some changes.
I have a lot of goals for the upcoming year. I'm determined to reach every single one. In order for that to happen, I need to adjust a few things.
It will happen...
No comments:
Post a Comment