Time, Time, Time

I do some online surveys. They don't generally pay very well, so I don't do them all that often; they usually pile-up for a few days, then I spend a couple hours doing as many of them as I can 2-3 times a week.

So I was doing one earlier that asked me to rate just how hard I was working to make some more "Me-Time" in my daily life and I really had to think about that.

I've been talking about it quite a bit here lately, but I never really quantified it in those terms. Like I've said a billion times before, by the time I get to the posts I need to make (and usually barely a handful of those I really want to make), do some spot-cleaning around the house, and take care of my personal business, I honestly very rarely have any Me-Time in my daily life. It results in my basically burning-out and taking a few days off, even though I really can't afford to do that...

So after reading and answering this question, I haven't been able to get it out of my head. How do you go about making some extra time for yourself in your daily routine? Hell, I got my comics like two weeks ago and I run a blog and website about comic books - I should be able to find enough time to read my comics, and can even justify it by saying it's work-related - but I have yet to find the time to sit down and actually read the magazines I'm spending my hard-earned money on every month!

Of course, I'm far from the only person who has this problem - it's spawned an entire industry of seminars, self-help manuals, speakers, and TV shows - so I'm wondering what everyone else does? I'm seriously going to spend some time today (or tomorrow, depending on when I find the time) looking up some ideas online. I don't mean silly things like "make a list of everything you have to do so you can better manage your time" - everyone knows stuff like that, it's just common sense; I mean real, practical methods of saving time on an everyday basis.

I told you I haven't been eating well lately and part of the reason for that is because I haven't taken the time to cook large meals and stuff, and that's just not right. Of course, seeing as how there is no delivery place around here, my only alternatives are TV dinners, sammiches, and snacks - and you can't last long on that fare, nor is it healthy for you.

But above and beyond that, everyone truly needs at least a few hours each day to just... be. Not to think about anything like bills and payments and all that stuff and just enjoy being alive for a few moments. Your mind and body literally crave it, and the longer you go without it, the stronger that need becomes, until you finally just breakdown and get sick or just can't get out of bed!

So I'm really tired of messing with it and saying I'm going to do this or that, then just not being able to get around to it, and feeling like I'm making excuses for why it didn't get done - it's an endless cycle of frustration that's really taking its toll on my health and well-being and I can no longer afford it.

Like I say, I'm going to kind of look around at some sites and things and see if I come across anything truly worthwhile. If I do, I'll let you know about it - if anyone's interested.