This seems to be the time of year when everyones brain gets a bit frazzled. Holidays, dinner guests, shopping, and everything else, that comes along at this time of the year.

I don't have any advice for you except, maybe to try to relax and take a deep breath. Somehow, things will fall into place. They always do.

I hope you and your family have a really great Thanksgiving. All the best, Hugs, Mads:)

I had already written my guest blog when I read your post,Tawny. We all seem to run faster and faster to reach the same place.

But somehow- not sure how- we get there, don't we :-)

Don't weeeeeeee?

Argh, must do some work!

Back later-
*smiling grimly with determination*

All Best, from the UK

Suexx

www.susanstephens.net

Tawny, I totally sympathize with you! Between a full-time job, two kids, a looming deadline, etc., etc., it's hard not to completely freak out at the thought of a house full of guests coming next week! I'm a list-maker, so I've prepared my shopping lists, my to-do lists, and maintain a writing spreadsheet to keep me on track with my deadlines. Beyond that, dire threats also work well (at least with the kids, LOL, not so much with the husband).

Hi Tawny—I work best under deadline, too, and I used to go bonkers trying to do everything else that only I could do (who else could do it so well?) Not a lot of sleeping going on, and I’m sure I was very pleasant to be around…..lol. It took me 44 years to figure out that I could delegate, shift and just not do, but since I have, my life has been sooo much better. Other people may not do things the way I would, and they may moan about lending a hand (teenagers, you know) but hey, what does it matter as long as the essential stuff gets done? I concentrate on writing now, which is the one thing I cannot delegate, shift or ignore.
Jeannie

but I am good at getting things done. I like to be busy, actually.

My only time management tip when things are overwhelming is lists and taking them seriously -- Mike lives in fear when I start talking lists, because he knows I'll stop at nothing to make it all happen. I'm in that mode now with Thanksgiving and a million things to be done by next Wed breathing down our necks, and trying to write on top of it all -- I go into "Shark mode" LOL -- just do it, single-mindedly getting one thing at a time done. I guess because I know no matter how unpleasant it might be now, if I do all of it, the reward will come later. I hope.

Sam

I vote for just ignoring the things I don't want to do. :) I agree, as a listmaker too, I do reach a point where there are just too many things on the list and something has to go.

Usually for me that's laundry.

I'm getting better at delegating chores w/o standing over my kids, making sure they do it MY way *g* Now, I figure as long as the dish washer is loaded and the laundry is clean, who cares if they stack the bowls a certain way or don't separate the colors like I would?

I'm very excited for the Holidays because this year I'm determined to start my list making/shopping/decorating/gift giving/crafting/baking early enough to enjoy the season and being with my family :-)

Do I know that feeling! Deadlines are all that keep me even partially organized. I'm trying to meet the work ones. (I hate keeping up with bill ones) and my house getting cleaned is totally laughable. I do try, though. At this point, I'm just hoping to survive til Christmas. :)

Hugs Tawny!

Honestly, I don't know how all of you multitasking author/professional/moms do it! There's always tons to do, and never enough time in which to do it ;)

I'm not a terribly good delegater (is that even a word?). Deadlines tend to make me crazy, but I'm also awful at breaking things down into manageable chunks so I tend to procrastinate until I can't possibly any longer and then hurry to finish. So... I have no tips, and am definitely someone who could use some ;)

Great decision to get a housecleaner, Tawny! You might also consider potlucking or getting some of the Thanksgiving stuff catered :) The essential part is being together with your family and friends, right? Making all the food/decorations yourself is definitely extra!

Can't wait to read what everyone else suggests!

Not really I think I could become better at delagating its hard to loose the control not that I ever really have it come to think of it

Just sing I WILL SURVIVE at the top of your lungs and make sure the house at least is free of mice. (Rodent droppings around the dining room table tend to be a bummer on Turkey Day.) Remind yourself that half the people coming to dinner next Thursday are very near-sighted and use a leaf blower to chase the dust-bunnies back under the couch. LOL. All best, Karen

p.s. and eat some extra stuffing for me!

Karen Kendall
FIT TO BE TIED, March '07
MEN AT WORK, July '07
AN AFFAIR TO REMEMBER, October '07
www.KarenKendall.com

The one thing I've decided after all these years is to keep the traditions you love, get rid of those that aren't as important to you. If what you love is family gathered together you can do that with a pan of lasagne (which my family has done a few times). What means the most to me is being with family and having a good time. If I have the time and feel like it, I make the traditional holiday fare. If not , we have the lasagne. Just so we're all together, happy and healthy.

I used to do everything myself too. Now I let other people help,i.e., bring salads or desserts for a large family gathering.
Much easier on the nerves.

I see you are doing a lot of promoting... I just saw your post on Romance Bandits :)

I delegate, delegate, delegate......and then I decide things are not getting done quickly enough or the way I want them and end up doing most of it myself anyway:) When I was working I actually worked better with deadlines and pressure because it gave me motivation to get things done.

Kendra

When I was in high school, my mother and I worked a deal that she would pay for gas in the car and I would do the grocery shopping. She gave me a list and a blank check every Saturday. I know the blank check part drove her crazy--I got a lot of speeches about not losing it--but I insisted that didn't know which store I was going to go to until the last minute. I got surprisingly few speeches on the shopping itself, which considering my tastes for exotica, was a leap of faith on her part.

This turned out to be a hard job at first: what aisle is the peanut butter in? What size to get? Generic or Jif? Chunky or smooth? etc. Perhaps you've seen that cell phone ad.

Flash forward a few years: I'm going to college. Out of state. I end up missing the deadline for dorm space, so I have to get an apartment--no meal plan. This was a whole lot less scary for me because I was an old hand at grocery shopping (and a whole bunch of other chores that I won't drag you thought the learning curve).

Each of these household tasks you're delegating to your kids are giving them the gift of trust and mastery. And the gift of employment to everyone you hire!

Happy holiday everyone! Gotta go check the mousetraps and tell the kids to unload the dishwasher . . . .