I’m a chronic time waster too. It’s kind of a catch-22 because the more I know I need to get things done, the more procastinate-y I become. Then the anxiety keeps on multiplying until I feel totally out of control. I have a really compulsive personality so the computer is a huge issue. I’ll randomly be thinking of something entirely useless, like what a word means in Spanish or what year a movie was made, and I have an uncontrollable urge to look it up on the Internet. This usually leads to a rabbithole of Wikipedia entries until it’s forty-five minutes later and I’m reading about something totally offbase. I’m taking online courses right now as well so that contributes to the random reasearch/time wasting. I know I’m using it as a coping mechanism to not have to deal with my anxiety, but it doesn’t make it any easier to stop.

I really like your plan. I’m going to try to use your method of writing down everything I need to get done in a day – I did a time budget before, so I know I should have plenty of time to do everything and still have free time. Thanks for your suggestion! Sometimes I feel like such a newb at this time management thing that most tips seem way beyond my comprehension level right now.

Since you are where you are at and cannot change that (which I totally understand and empathize), my advice to you would be to do do things in small increments. Depending on your energy level (which probably varies each day as mine does), you cannot plan far ahead and you have to take each day as it comes.

FlyLady is helpful, but her regular plan does not suit chronically-ill people. However, you can modify things and create your own plan. You can set a timer to swish the toilet and wipe the bathroom counter, and maybe starting a laundry load (this takes 5 minutes or less). Perhaps you can then sit down and do a small task for another 5-10 minutes. Then after that, take a little break for yourself – a cup of tea or 5-10 minutes of computer time for example. If you need more rest time, then you need to take that, no need to push.

I truly feel for you and know the challenges that come with having health issues. My other advice to you would be to not compare yourself to other women – especially those who are healthy. It’s like comparing apples and oranges. Can’t be done. People don’t generally know what something is like unless they have been in the same shoes themselves.

Also, celebrate the small things that you can accomplish each day. If you have people in your life that you can get help from or delegate more difficult things to, then that is a big help. My husband helps with difficult chores that are painful for me to do. Lastly, if you have a really bad day, focus on the basics of having healthy food to eat, clean dishes, and a load of laundry done. If you keep up on these basic things, life will be easier for you.

Feel free to visit me. I’ll answer any questions you have the best I can. Hope this helps.

Also, ALYSHA, I discovered something about myself lomg ago: I have to have a short nap every day, or I am a screaming monster by 6 pm! I’s so tempting to try to use naptime as an excuse to cross things off my list, but everyone suffers at the end of the day because Mommy is exhausted and super-crabby. God just did not bless me.with vast reserves of patience and this is my only solution! I hope this helps!