time management
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Marriage (85) Pregnancy (78) Retirement (68) Christmas (56) Addition of new family member (51) Vacation (43)
Wait a minute! Aren’t those supposed to be the GOOD things of life, the events we work toward and wait for? They are, but they’re also very stressful, making huge demands of time and energy and requiring major adjustments. Consider Christmas. All those preparations, the staggering expectations, the relentless requirement that you be happy! Most of us simply add this huge load to our everyday cares and responsibilities; life and work go on, Christmas or no. And just on the off chance that things don’t go perfectly, you can add feelings of guilt, inadequacy, and remorse to the list of burdens. Happy holidays! But what about vacation—that oasis of rest and relief we struggle toward all year long? You take on additional roles as travel agent, tour guide, recreation director, and master sergeant in charge of logistics. You exhaust yourself preparing for the trip while also trying to catch up and get ahead on your regular work. You leave familiar routines and surroundings behind for the unknown. So you’re already hitting the top of the stress scale even before the first flat tire, missed plane connection, or botched motel reservation. Are we there yet?
The Bozo Factor The world is full of bozos, and you’re one of them. Don’t get offended. I’m another one. We can’t help it. We just keep getting in each other’s way. 218