Hi all! I’ve been MIA on the blog lately, so I wanted to fill you guys in on what has been going on in my life.
I told you of my plans to enter The Great Love Inspired Author Search. Well, I’m happy to announce that I made it to the second round! This means I’ve got to figure out plot issues and crank out words. I also have to make sure to leave enough time at the end for a final read through and edits.
So, for the past month, I’ve been balancing work, family life, and writing.
Sometimes, the balancing act is easier than others. Right now is an extra-busy time at work. You see, I’m a school teacher, and we’re at the end of the school year. That means end-of-the-year activities, semester exams, awards day, etc. It also means coming home at the end of the day so exhausted that all I want to do is eat a bowl of cereal and climb into bed.
Fortunately, this is the last week of school for the 2018-2019 year! After Friday, I will have one last thing to juggle.
However, with doctors’ appointments, workshops, and other things that fill up a teacher’s summer, I’ll simply be changing one balancing act for another. Also, I’m not as far along in my manuscript as I had hoped to be at this point, so my days will be a different kind of busy.
My dream of a publishing contract is within my reach. I just have to successfully make it to the other side of the tightrope. I can do this!
Some things that I do in my everyday life to help with this balancing act include cooking one dish CrockPot and InstaPot meals, not stressing if clothes aren’t folded and put away as soon as they come out of the dryer, and drinking lots of coffee.
What about you? What are some of your best tips for balancing all that life throws your way?
Rhonda Starnes 
Rhonda, I’m cheering for you! You can definitely do this!
You have good strategies for your plan. To help with your balancing act, I recommend scheduling time to refresh. When I had a deadline, I found ending my writing day at 4:00 allowed me to focus better during my work. I got more accomplished when I was able to look forward to relaxing in the evening. (Reward!) Taking care of yourself is important to keeping your author-brain productive.
Let me know if there is something I can do to help you! Blessings and prayers as you DO THIS!
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Sherida, thanks for stopping by today. I will definitely have a set writing schedule once Summer Break starts. Thanks for the advice. I appreciate your encouragement and support!
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You’ve got this! You are so capable and I’m so excited about the second round for the contest! Praying for you as you balance your writing with life. Yay for summer time!
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Thank you, sweet friend!
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I’m also cheering for you, Rhonda! SO exciting!!
And as a former teacher, I understand that end-of-year exhaustion—whew.
I’ll admit that tightrope photo took my breath away, LOL!
Hugs, Patti Jo
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Love the Crock-Pot tip, love the clothes-folding tip. As long as they’re clean, I don’t care. One of my things is to make a second meal out of leftovers. I never downsized to “cooking for two,” I still cook for four and plan on a second meal.
The tip I still use the most is one I got from a LaLeche League handbook for breast-feeding mothers, so tells you how long ago that was. Soak the dishes after a meal, then the stuff comes off more easily. I’m a “soaker.” The other one I like is from, again, an old book, one by Karen Mains, where she suggests if you have a batch of brownies or cookies to make, or a pie, do it before or right after a meal, so you can do all the dishes together.
I also group my phone calls and things like the checkbook and bill-paying so I can have more solid blocks of time.
That said, I’m thrilled that you’ve advanced in the LI promotion. You will do great.
Your friend,
Kathy Bailey aka Kaybee
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Thanks for the great tips, Kathy!
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