Top Ten Things That Drain Me

Hello everyone. And welcome to another edition of Top Ten Tuesday on MamaManagement. I must confess that I almost didn't do a post today...barely made it in before the day's out as it is! Over the past few days, I've been toying with the idea of taking a break from the blog for the summer. I am still toying with that. Not walking away completely, but getting away from the regular schedule and just posting occasionally, whenever the spirit moves me.

I'm trying to get away from schedules in general for the summer. I'm trying to fill our little world with open-ended, unscheduled time. Time to play. Time to explore. Time to be spontaneous. Time to create. Time to just lay around and hang out...without feeling guilty for not being productive.

I'm trying to eliminate from my day-to-day life as many as possible of the things that drain me. And instead, I want to fill those spaces with the things that fill me up, that energize me, that replenish my spirit. Unstructured, unscheduled time with my kids and with some friends and by ourselves. Which means we are not doing a bunch of summer camps or classes this summer. No classes, as a matter of fact. My eldest will get one week of camp at her old preschool, and that's it. We will go to the pool and the park and the library. We will take trips to visit our family. We will do a few special excursions. We will bake and craft and make ice cream and read and go for walks and do absolutely nothing.

So, for this week's Top Ten Tuesday list, I bring you the Top Ten Things That Drain Me...the things I will be trying to eliminate this summer (and beyond, hopefully). And, I give you the heads-up that my posts on MamaManagement may be fewer and farther between for the next few months. So, when you don't hear from me, know that I am somewhere chillaxing and feeling...let's hope...not so drained.

Top Ten Things That Drain Me

10. Worrying...about anything...and Guilt...about anything...though mommy-guilt and general woman-guilt top the list

9. Letting myself feel overwhelmed by things that are not intrinsically overwhelming (like normal, day-to-day life stuff or making big (but not really big) decisions, like which piece of furniture to order...this would be opposed to things that are intrinsically overwhelming, like, I don't know, war or abuse or major illness or...you get the idea)

8. Yelling...at anyone, for any reason...but mainly at my kids (it makes me feel like a bully and is usually the result of my feeling drained...though sometimes it's just because they're crazy)

7. Feeling disconnected

6. Too much time in social situations (that are not with close friends/family) (yeah, the irony is not lost on me)

5. Rushing

4. Having a too-packed schedule (often goes with #5)

3. Too much, too loud, on-going noise (have I mentioned that I have a three and a five year old?)

2. Holding a grudge...I only ever really do this when arguing with my husband...never for very long, but still...so draining

1. My own gigantic to do list (have I mentioned this before?)

So there you have it. Ten things that really drain me. And I'm doing my best to ditch them all. Wish me luck.

Until next time, make a list of the things that drain you...and try eliminate one of them from your day-to-day life; then fill the space with something that replenishes your spirit.

Then go chillax a bit.