Something's Gotta Give

A few weeks ago I mentioned my fondness for a fitness routine that added activity. To me, it felt so different than cutting-out, denying and excluding. How often have I resolved to quit drinking soda, stop having 4:00 snacks, never eat after 8PM or limit sweets to once a day? I think I recognized that if I added something (the goal being: something healthy) that something else would have to go.

I don't recall ever being taught that principle of life, but experience has proven that something's gotta give.

A couple weeks ago we added something to our household. Another dog! Now there are two, 45-pound German Shepherd mutts running around our house. It's a long story but, in the end, she needed a home. And I knew, almost immediately, that something would have to give.


I resolved to leave the computer OFF except for specific times to check email, etc. And I discovered that it is the "etc." that is a colossal time-hog. I can check email rather quickly, but responding takes a lot of time for me. I have a short list of blogs I read regularly, but in the last few weeks most have fallen by the way. The news (and celebrity gossip and human interest stories) have mostly been ignored. I found myself wanting to run to the computer to "check something real quick" but since it was off I started keeping a list of all the stuff I wanted to look at on-line...the weather, theatre times/locations, a new mommy blog I heard about, cholesterol research.

And do you know what I discovered? When I exercise some discipline over my computer time, I suddenly become more productive. I suddenly decide to call someone instead of spending 15 minutes composing a perfectly worded email. I suddenly have time to sweep and vacuum multiple times in a week to manage the dog hair. I suddenly have 5 minutes to do my arm exercises. I am suddenly less irritable with my inquisitive 3 year old. I have suddenly had the time and inclincation to play Memory and cash-register and soccer. And, ironically enough, I suddenly have time to compose a blog post.

Something's gotta give and for me these days it's the computer.

Comments

Stephanie said…
I admire you in so many ways, Donita! I can tell that you sincerely strive to keep your priorities in line and that is very noble.

Congrats on the new "addition" to your family, by the way. It looks like the two dogs are good friends already.
June 30, 2009 at 9:44 PM
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