Work, Rest, and Getting Back on Purpose

Now that it's summer it seems like we have so much more to do with yard and garden work on top of the usual inside projects. I like doing projects: I feel powerful when I look at a finished project and see what I accomplished, I enjoy working hard and using my body while quieting my mind, and I feel excited when I experience newness and change.

This weekend I got rid of the TV (and all its accompanying gadgets and movies) from the living room and replaced it with a bookshelf, and now our space feels so much more clear and comfortable. Matt fixed up the rabbit hutch and created a pen so they can graze on the lawn. I worked on "Project No Lawn": I covered more of the grass to kill it, put down some edging, and set up the poles for the kids' living teepee. I also planted some eggplant and tomatoes and squash seeds in the garden. We did all these things in between taking care of our small children, who are almost always needing one thing or another.

Our family got some time to relax and hang out together, but all I really remember is doing projects. We did go for our usual Saturday morning family hike, but the rest of the weekend is a blur. I want to relax and have fun with my family, let Matt have the rest he needs from all the work he does, and enjoy my home and yard without having to constantly be working. But how do we manage all we have on our plates (house, yard, garden, kids, Matt's music, animals, commitments, etc) and still have time to relax? How do we support ourselves to stop when there is so much to constantly get done?

I realize that this is a theme for me. I take care of myself last, after I get everything else done, and then go around feeling exhausted and unhappy. I continue to work on this issue; I keep coming back to my true purposes for how I want to be in my life and I commit to ways that I will live out those purposes, but then I fall off the wagon without even realizing it. For example, one commitment I have been breaking is resting, journaling and reading right when kids go down for naps (rather than jumping on the computer right away and using my whole break surfing the internet, which leaves me feeling drained and disappointed). I have not been following through with my commitments. It's a real challenge for me to do what I really want to be doing in my life (connecting with my family, reading, resting, getting enough sleep, exercising), and let the rest (cleaning, chores, projects, errands, blogging) move down on the priority list.

I recommit to checking in with my purposes and getting clear about my commitments. I will also talk with Matt about how we want to set up our weekends so we have more down time together.

Does this resonate for anyone? How do you manage everything on your plate? Do you have space in your life for resting, connecting, or doing what you enjoy? How did you set that up for yourself?


Related posts:
Creating Conscious Commitments
My Struggle With Living Purposefully
Inner Child
Confessions of a Mother