tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post1317706307502331280..comments2024-03-28T23:49:23.325-06:00Comments on Author Elana Johnson: Tell the Truth Tuesday: Balancing Is A Tough ActElana Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05877856005992028912noreply@blogger.comBlogger39125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-76691774517228948162011-08-11T21:37:01.315-06:002011-08-11T21:37:01.315-06:00My current balancing act? Epic fail. And that'...My current balancing act? Epic fail. And that's all I have to say about that.<br /><br />However, I love YOUR balancing act. Especially the Monday clean up so the rest of the week can kind of kiss off. I may need to integrate that.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-44633773808954211722011-08-10T22:59:10.969-06:002011-08-10T22:59:10.969-06:00I'm totally with you on Number 3. And I'm ...I'm totally with you on Number 3. And I'm TOTALLY going to do a dedicated chore day - it seems like it will be the only way for me to tackle the whole "housework" thing. I suck, suck, suck at getting the housework done, and it has to change. Thanks for the idea.<br /><br />I do the double-dipping on time, too - I bring my writing journal or pages to edit and revise while my son is in dance class. My older son has to come with, but he's a big reader, so he gets out his book and I get out my pages.<br /><br />I like Margaret's suggestion for exercise - I'll have to see if I can figure out something like that.Ishta Mercuriohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17776946702988283453noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-44550732529461547022011-08-09T23:08:19.337-06:002011-08-09T23:08:19.337-06:00I think this is something that's a constant ba...I think this is something that's a constant battle for everyone. I'm always struggling to find the balance. I like your dedicated day for chores. I think I'll pick that one up. I also try to just be present and for me that means no multi-tasking. I can't write and be with my kids at the same time. I have family time and I have writing time and I do my best to not let one get in the way of the other, otherwise I lose on every side. My family helps me stay balanced.Liesl Shurtliffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09064620851881036609noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-27859328936653845372011-08-09T22:30:36.195-06:002011-08-09T22:30:36.195-06:00Thank you for writing realistically about this. I...Thank you for writing realistically about this. It's important for writers to realize that sometimes things do need to be sacrificed, and it's not always the same thing.<br /><br />I used to feel so guilty if I went a day without writing, but now I know that sometimes my life demands that. Other times, I know I can ask my family for grace while I finish something that really needs to get done. <br /><br />It's good to know that we're all in the same boat...Julie Hedlundhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04477115458570906449noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-26882563291389447672011-08-09T21:13:42.419-06:002011-08-09T21:13:42.419-06:00Wow Elana! I love the list! Right now I'm not...Wow Elana! I love the list! Right now I'm not balancing my life very well, but I hope in a few weeks I can do better (school starts again). ;pCarolyn Vhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03780443388339294502noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-23314364473870394242011-08-09T17:57:01.109-06:002011-08-09T17:57:01.109-06:00I'm with Shannon, I seriously think you have c...I'm with Shannon, I seriously think you have clones. Or something. From where I'm standing your balance is nothing short of amazing.<br /><br />As for me, I try to get as much done as I possibly can while the kids are out of the house. With 3 kids under 6 it's pretty much impossible to get work done when they're all home. I LOVE strict bedtimes because that's when I do the bulk of my writing. I'm riding this 7 PM bedtime for as long as humanly possible. I'll totally bump it up to 7:30 when they're 16. See, I'm totally flexible!lisa and laurahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18144863275895761642noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-71791576481342072362011-08-09T17:54:54.810-06:002011-08-09T17:54:54.810-06:00I've always had the problem of being to unfocu...I've always had the problem of being to unfocused with my life. By trying so hard to stay "balanced" in my personal life, I realized I'd been neglecting my professional duties and it's hurt me a bit. <br /><br />But, luckily, I'm changing that up. I'm still striving for balance, but I've learned the value of taking that one thing you really want to do and exploring the heck out of it until all the groundwork's done, then moving on to the next thing on the list. That way I can keep all my activities going without feeling overwhelmed, because keeping up the writing habit or improving your personal or professional life is so much easier than starting them.Adam Meyershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12281446694096104386noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-33531471980071020682011-08-09T16:28:53.376-06:002011-08-09T16:28:53.376-06:00Some good advice here...learning to be okay with l...Some good advice here...learning to be okay with less than perfect is important, I think. 'good enough' takes on new meaning when you are a debut author.<br /><br />and, cyborgs? I want some!Tesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10014195715998913268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-85212813171829293252011-08-09T16:27:03.692-06:002011-08-09T16:27:03.692-06:00So very true. Though I'm still not 100% convin...So very true. Though I'm still not 100% convinced you don't have a secret army of cyborgs to assist you. :)Shannon Messengerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08003607156860716462noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-57029334024650206642011-08-09T14:55:13.612-06:002011-08-09T14:55:13.612-06:00Hi, Elana! I so hear ya on all this. Sometimes whe...Hi, Elana! I so hear ya on all this. Sometimes when there's a huge project that needs undertaking, I ask the kids to help run the house. They're pretty sufficient at making meals and stuff. I'm grateful for them!<br /><br />I take advantage of deadtime. While we drive, I bring my laptop along and edit/write or blog. Great post!<br /><br /><a href="http://elizabethmueller.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">♥.•*¨Elizabeth¨*•.♥</a><br />Can Alex save Winter from the darkness that hunts her?<br />YA Paranormal Romance, <a href="http://www.authorelizabethmueller.com/" rel="nofollow"><i>Darkspell</i></a> coming fall of 2011!Elizabeth Muellerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06028099814857743134noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-91166945251929608262011-08-09T14:05:25.610-06:002011-08-09T14:05:25.610-06:00Great post. I am hopping to the google calender th...Great post. I am hopping to the google calender thing right now. Is anybody else jealous of Matthew MacNish?Jenny S. Morrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00482342313938669366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-73009187578248528542011-08-09T13:54:50.769-06:002011-08-09T13:54:50.769-06:00That's why I don't take photos very often ...That's why I don't take photos very often anymore. Something had to go. Besides, weddings usually coincided with Saturday book signings (back when they were worth doing often) and after I gave up taking photos professionally, I realized it was a great weight off my shoulders.<br />My motto- The chaos becomes the balance.L. Diane Wolfehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06425864276166334896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-47235297792257666352011-08-09T12:33:37.205-06:002011-08-09T12:33:37.205-06:00I am a huge person when it comes to balance, altho...I am a huge person when it comes to balance, although I don't always achieve it. I am huge on making lists too! Even writing something I've already done just so I can cross it off! Love it! I like how you talk about sacrifice. It's so true and just has to be done. Good not to sacrifice the same thing all the time.Abby Fowershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08567978659174723198noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-51334221399202863292011-08-09T12:07:25.687-06:002011-08-09T12:07:25.687-06:00A rotation of sacrifices! I never thought of it th...A rotation of sacrifices! I never thought of it that way before... but so true! I like that better than the ever-unachievable "balance"Margo Berendsenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03476308235642890474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-72542231034147841192011-08-09T12:02:13.156-06:002011-08-09T12:02:13.156-06:00Sometimes, I wish I still had DVR. It was such a t...Sometimes, I wish I still had DVR. It was such a time-saver in college! It let me skip shower while something was on & then I could come back and simply skip the commercials. It was hard re-adjusting back to non-DVR, but then again, I watch most things on the internet these days. :P<br /><br />The first thing that gets sacrificed for me is sleep. It's always sleep, even though I love it. Balance is indeed very hard to achieve!Krispyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09492607213249874138noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-36993909945158461442011-08-09T11:54:04.263-06:002011-08-09T11:54:04.263-06:00I'm going to have to try the Google Calendar! ...I'm going to have to try the Google Calendar! I'm still figuring it out but like you said, balance is hard and often consists of sacrifice on some level. I also need to learn to say No to protect my own sanity when life gets hectic.KM Nallehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06714392426676743868noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-39857062858420770192011-08-09T10:26:05.487-06:002011-08-09T10:26:05.487-06:00Oh yeah! We writers (mothers, employees, cooks, cl...Oh yeah! We writers (mothers, employees, cooks, cleaners, wives or husbands, ets.) are familiar with the "rotation of sacrifices." You hit a bingo with this one, Elana. So true!Susan Aylworthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12950324917778043680noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-2251429980974111962011-08-09T10:01:36.669-06:002011-08-09T10:01:36.669-06:00You have some great suggestions here that I'm ...You have some great suggestions here that I'm definitely going to borrow :) I'll be back at college in a week, and then I'll be taking 18 credit hours, working two jobs, and querying agents. Needless to say, I'll be busy. But it is possible! :DHermana Tiffany Garnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08512773328198541058noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-52918521929098146982011-08-09T09:50:23.238-06:002011-08-09T09:50:23.238-06:00For some reason the image of you as a pit bull mad...For some reason the image of you as a pit bull made me LOL.<br /><br />I'm kind of a horrible balancer. (Which is probably why my house is so dirty.)<br /><br />I tend to get really focused on things, and then have to take a few days to stop and regroup. But I don't have kids, so that probably helps. :)Miriam Forsterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08773194271144793485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-63288887878795038512011-08-09T09:05:55.057-06:002011-08-09T09:05:55.057-06:00I pretty much do what you do :) esp with the lists...I pretty much do what you do :) esp with the lists LOL The thing that most often gets sacrificed is sleep. Monday is my big pull it together day as well.Michelle McLeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08730366330276974943noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-29165951141776142702011-08-09T08:47:07.835-06:002011-08-09T08:47:07.835-06:00Layering and sacrifice are essential. It's li...Layering and sacrifice are essential. It's like Life: Multi-task.Angela Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03324366495151363782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-11597167940980900732011-08-09T08:25:18.081-06:002011-08-09T08:25:18.081-06:00Amen to layering activities duriing "dead tim...Amen to layering activities duriing "dead time." The other day I was getting dressed and brushing my teeth at the same time and didn't think anything of it until my husband laughed at me. With writing AND having kids you become the quintessential multitasker.Mary Grayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14381578745894421730noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-77911017400379073282011-08-09T08:22:28.824-06:002011-08-09T08:22:28.824-06:00I'm a list freak, mostly because I'm very ...I'm a list freak, mostly because I'm very forgetful. My list has four sub-categories: Family things/chores, church calling, personal goals, and work goals. Then I prioritize the 'have tos' plus I've learned not to take life too seriously. Flexibility is a must. Using 'dead time' is a life-saver!Mary Annhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10552979783334601692noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-39331557854357977502011-08-09T08:06:05.967-06:002011-08-09T08:06:05.967-06:00Your "Make a list" one could've been...Your "Make a list" one could've been written by me! I think anyone going on a scavenger hunt through my house on any given day could find 8 or more of my lists.<br /><br />And I LOVED your "Sacrifice" one! I totally agree, but I am not always so good about rotating which thing gets sacrificed. <br /><br />I think I'm going to go make a rotation list right now.Peggy Eddlemanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10241451940725996650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-55907500053871858432011-08-09T07:53:43.344-06:002011-08-09T07:53:43.344-06:00Love your list ;)
I'm realizing I need to mak...Love your list ;) <br />I'm realizing I need to make time - like get up early to work on certain things, or read blogs before my kids get up and before I go to work. I write during my lunch hour too (or try to).<br />The balancing act is hard.Steena Holmeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03585255306121495098noreply@blogger.com