September 7, 2006
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What DON’T You Do?
The 1995 ACCS (Association of Classical and Christian Schools) conference was our initial introduction to classical education; by the final session, “Educating Yourself” both my husband and I had a severe case of “brain bulge.” A young man in his late twenties hoisted a stack of books on the front table. He introduced The Question: how can we give our children the kind of education that we never received? The Answer: educate yourself. He handed out “Top 100 must read books”. I thrive on reading lists.
I eagerly scanned it and was dismayed to realize that the first book I had read was number 63 on the list! Oy vey. With weary resignation we listened as the speaker enthusiastically talked about fifth century BC Greece, his current reading, and the motivation to be an autodidact.
Afterwards, I approached him and asked, “What don’t you do?”
He gave me a quizzical look. “You have a family, you have a job, you have duties: how do you get it all done? What do you choose NOT to do?”
Ah, the lines in his face disappeared and he replied, “I found out that I can get by with about four or five hours of sleep.” Although I was amazed at his stamina, I needed more.
“What else?” I prompted.
“Let’s see,” he thought, “I don’t read the daily newspaper, I don’t watch TV…” His voice trailed off. I think his secret was staying up to 1:00 in the morning and rising at 5:00. Wow.
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It’s good to both affirm and deny. It is good to be deliberate both in what I choose to do and in what I choose not to do.When it comes to getting things done, efficiency is important, but even more so are the choices to include or exclude an activity. Mental multi-vitamin (scroll to 8.03.2006) writes about making time and included a list of don’ts. On her list is answering the phone (she turns the ringer off), mall shopping, reading junk mail, elaborate cooking, and wasting time on doubt.
Right now I’m working towards balance, searching for order, and pursuing proper priorities. What stays? What goes? Where shall I say no? What can I prune from my life in order to say yes to the things I desperately want? I watch little TV, but will that resolve hold when American Idol starts a new season? I don’t play Spider Solitaire on the computer because it somehow disappeared a few months ago. That was a huge time waster in my life. Computer time is another time eater, but I really enjoy and I think I truly benefit from my online reading.
How do you manage your computer time?
Any ideas out there? What do you say no to? I’d love to hear.
Comments (3)
I don’t have any bright ideas to offer but I eagerly look forward to any that are posted here. This is a subject I need to address – no question about it. My life is out of balance and I honestly don’t know any activities I can eliminate. Or maybe more accurately, that I WANT to eliminate. Including Spider Solitaire!
Good questions, Carol!
There are lots of things which dont get done around here….my oven needs to be cleaned, for example, ….but my suggestion of how to manage computer time is sincere, even if it sounds like a rationalization. And I’m with you…I loved Melissa’s suggestions over at Mental Multivitamin.
Use a timer.
At any rate, assuming you’re talking about computer time strictly for entertainment as opposed to anything related to research and prep for teaching, then establish a time limit. *Down-time* is something I am realizing needs to be scheduled in the same way that I schedule everything else. I used to play Tetris, but dont anymore only because this computer (a hand-me-down) doesnt have it. Thinking that I was wasting time, I committed to listening to some sermon tapes while *gaming* only to discover that I was actually *thinking* (working through situations or organizing lists) while I was playing. Same was true for all the hours I’ve spent in traffic: I’ve NEVER considered it wasted time. I had my children *captive* if I needed to go over things with them and I spent the traffic time planning what I would do once I DID get home.
It’s called *cognitive thinking*…..it requires time, and the great, multi-tasking female mind can do LOTS of things at once.
Cheers!
I, too, struggle with balance and with time management. I waste time on the computer (rarely playing games, but in reading stuff that isn’t all that edifying and too much time on the couponing sites!). Setting a timer does help. I do that ala Flylady. Not getting on the computer until I have my morning chores done helps, too. I rarely get on the computer in the evenings or on weekends. I’ve eliminated newspapers for the most part, magazines and daytime TV. I don’t spend much time on the telephone. I’ve cut way back on my outside activities so I have more time at home. I try to run things by my husband before I agree to do them, because he is much more realistic about my time commitments than I am! (I used to resent this about him, but I have learned to appreciate it as a gift!)