Pet Peeve: measuring self-worth by busyness

[Anonymous]

I always roll my eyes at people who say they work late every night and wear that like a badge of honor. What's that old quote about how if a person can't get their work done in 8 hours at the office, they ought to be paying rent?

[Anonymous]

Still don't get why OP is patting herself on the back for being unemployed and having free time (and most likely overweight with very little savings). I just don't get it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I miss Europe. Where a 2-3 hour dinner was the norm and it's ok to let your kids run around while you eat.

Here I feel like my check comes while I'm still chewing.

Don't some countries also close up for a couple hours for afternoon Siesta? That would all be nice if we did it here.

an article about my people - http://www.npr.org/2012/01/07/144822637/italian-shopkeepers-say-no-grazie-to-more-hours?sc=17&f=1001

LOL! got to love the Italians!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Still don't get why OP is patting herself on the back for being unemployed and having free time (and most likely overweight with very little savings). I just don't get it.

Ah, America, where the worst insult is that you are a poor, fat woman.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I miss Europe. Where a 2-3 hour dinner was the norm and it's ok to let your kids run around while you eat.

Here I feel like my check comes while I'm still chewing.

Don't some countries also close up for a couple hours for afternoon Siesta? That would all be nice if we did it here.

an article about my people - http://www.npr.org/2012/01/07/144822637/italian-shopkeepers-say-no-grazie-to-more-hours?sc=17&f=1001

LOL! got to love the Italians!

Saw an article saying that Brazil? now has a law that allows employees to charge employers for time spent reading and answering email outside of work hours. That would be great if we had that!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP basically you have made nothing of yourself in life and as a result, have lots of free time on your hands. Congratulations.

I think you are typical of exactly the kind of problem OP was talking about. She's structured her life in a way that makes sense to her such that she doesn't have to run around fruitlessly. She is indeed owed congratulations!

The irony of someone who doesn't have a paid job saying she's not crazy busy. Of course not. Duh. Try adding a 50 hour a week work and commute commitment and add even one volunteer commitment on top of raising kids and maintaining a marriage, and get back to me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I always roll my eyes at people who say they work late every night and wear that like a badge of honor. What's that old quote about how if a person can't get their work done in 8 hours at the office, they ought to be paying rent?

Two years ago I had one full time colleague and one who worked 28 hours a week. They were both laid off. I had to pick up their work. Sorry that I can't get it all done in 8 hours a day.

[Anonymous]

I was born with an inability to relax, especially during the day. For me, it isn't a lack of time management skills. If I have the "time" I will create projects- making pasta from scratch, homemade granola bars, ironing everything in our closets.

I dont judge others that do "less". I'm just wired in a different way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was born with an inability to relax, especially during the day. For me, it isn't a lack of time management skills. If I have the "time" I will create projects- making pasta from scratch, homemade granola bars, ironing everything in our closets.

I dont judge others that do "less". I'm just wired in a different way.

How about channeling that energy into relationships?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was born with an inability to relax, especially during the day. For me, it isn't a lack of time management skills. If I have the "time" I will create projects- making pasta from scratch, homemade granola bars, ironing everything in our closets.

I dont judge others that do "less". I'm just wired in a different way.

You should video yourself and put it on youtube. Maybe you will have a following and make $$$ from it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP basically you have made nothing of yourself in life and as a result, have lots of free time on your hands. Congratulations.

I think you are typical of exactly the kind of problem OP was talking about. She's structured her life in a way that makes sense to her such that she doesn't have to run around fruitlessly. She is indeed owed congratulations!

The irony of someone who doesn't have a paid job saying she's not crazy busy. Of course not. Duh. Try adding a 50 hour a week work and commute commitment and add even one volunteer commitment on top of raising kids and maintaining a marriage, and get back to me.

Those are your choices. There are no awards for being the most stressed out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was born with an inability to relax, especially during the day. For me, it isn't a lack of time management skills. If I have the "time" I will create projects- making pasta from scratch, homemade granola bars, ironing everything in our closets.

I dont judge others that do "less". I'm just wired in a different way.

How about channeling that energy into relationships?

I do. I meet friends for coffee/yoga/power walks all the time. I host dinners a few times a month. I have a very close set of friends and family I'm constantly in touch with.

The joke in my family is that I asked for homework in kindergarten. I worked 2 jobs in college. I'm not bragging, it literally is just part of my DNA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP basically you have made nothing of yourself in life and as a result, have lots of free time on your hands. Congratulations.

I think you are typical of exactly the kind of problem OP was talking about. She's structured her life in a way that makes sense to her such that she doesn't have to run around fruitlessly. She is indeed owed congratulations!

The irony of someone who doesn't have a paid job saying she's not crazy busy. Of course not. Duh. Try adding a 50 hour a week work and commute commitment and add even one volunteer commitment on top of raising kids and maintaining a marriage, and get back to me.

Those are your choices. There are no awards for being the most stressed out.

I am not crazy busy. I spent 3 hours on the couch this afternoon. I believe that everyone should volunteer, in one way or another. We feel much more secure with two incomes instead of one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP basically you have made nothing of yourself in life and as a result, have lots of free time on your hands. Congratulations.

I think you are typical of exactly the kind of problem OP was talking about. She's structured her life in a way that makes sense to her such that she doesn't have to run around fruitlessly. She is indeed owed congratulations!

The irony of someone who doesn't have a paid job saying she's not crazy busy. Of course not. Duh. Try adding a 50 hour a week work and commute commitment and add even one volunteer commitment on top of raising kids and maintaining a marriage, and get back to me.

Not the OP, but I work full time, have two kids, been married for 14 years, I volunteer. Does that count? I also take naps (at least an hour, two if I can swing it) every Saturday and Sunday, so it is possible. It's a choice I make because I also hate being "crazy busy". Sure, it does happen on occasion, but I go out of my way to schedule activities, volunteer and social commitments in such a way that I still maintain some downtime every weekend (and most evenings). I am an introvert and anything else would be torture to me. To each their own.

[Anonymous]

DH and I are not gifted in the time-management department, despite our best efforts. We are humbly aware of it, and live a simple life because anything else would make us insane:

- One social commitment per weekend
- one playdate a week per child
- one class a week per child (besides school)
- soon to add one sport per parent on the WE.

Often there is more, and when extra activities are scheduled with people we love, it makes us happy - but frazzled.