New Chapter Begins – Getting my Bearings

Happy Monday!

Normally I don’t greet Mondays with such enthusiasm, but today is my first “non-working” Monday in a very long time.  And when I say “non-working”, I mean No Longer Working for The Man.  Still plenty of work to be done around here!

The end of my corporate life was oddly abrupt, as I was supposed to work as a contractor  through the end of April, but found out late Wednesday that it “wasn’t approved”, after being told the week before that it was a go.  So, it’s a change in my mindset – and now I still have to go back in and clear out my office. 

Awkward, yes?

Well, we rounded out our kids’ Spring Break with a trip to Gettysburg.  I haven’t been there since I was a kid, and I can’t say enough good things about it.  It’s truly a testament to our forefathers who fought and a national treasure in how it has remained virtually untouched.  You can envision the battle that took place, the bravery that these men summoned, and the sacrifices that were made in the name of freedom.  Hallowed ground indeed.

I’ll admit, prior to visiting Gettysburg, we had an indulgent visit at Chocolate World in Hershey, PA.  What a fun place!  We even got to make our own personalized chocolate bars, which was a highlight for the kids.  Who am I kidding?  I loved it too.

One of our Confections of Perfection in the making…

We even got to design our own packaging – quite a thrill.

They were uber-efficient in their assembly line process too.  I love watching how things are made, and this was fun for the whole family.

When we came back home, Spring finally decided to make an appearance, so I started getting to work, and pulled some of the outdoor porch cushions out and cleaned off the furniture.  The weather was so glorious, that I kicked up some tuned and enjoyed a cold beer in a frosty mug when I finished.  A good day.

So, bear with me as I get my bearings as a new stay-at-home-mom/blogger/entrepreneur.  I have so many things I want to do, that I hardly know where to begin, and I hope that not having a set schedule doesn’t result in me being scattered unfocused.   I’m a gal who craves structure, so this is definitely out of my comfort zone in that regard.  I know I’ll get a schedule, but I’ll be flailing about in the meantime.

Do any of you pros out there have any tips to ease me into this new lifestyle?  I’m all ears!

9 Comments

  • Reply
    Andrea
    April 8, 2013 at 12:07 pm

    Jenny, good luck at your day on the "job"! Your going to be great in your new position. I find making one big "To Do" list, by day, at the beginning of the week keeps me from quickly becoming overwhelmed. Your trip looks fabulous. I think I need to check out the Hershey factory. I do love me some chocolate!

  • Reply
    Lisa @ Shine Your Light
    April 8, 2013 at 1:20 pm

    Sometimes flailing about is a good thing….for a bit! I find it helps to have a daily plan…..down to the minutia that includes blogging, housework, kids stuff, meals. I jot it all down Monday morning, and don't always stick to it, but at least I have a to-do list for the week ahead. Keeps me focused. Enjoy your new freedom and life!!!

  • Reply
    Lisa @ Texas Decor
    April 8, 2013 at 2:10 pm

    I agree with the others. I usually make a list for the week. I jot down what I need to do each day, and then I have another list of things I might want to accomplish that week, but don't really need to do on any particular day. I also try to have at least one "me" day where I don't plan any cleaning, errands, etc. I love those days where I can just sit around, drink tea and look at blogs, of course. :)I also check my lists the night before so I know what to expect the next day.

  • Reply
    JennyBC
    April 9, 2013 at 1:40 am

    I would say set an alarm and get up at the same time every weekday. You can putter a lot of time away if you aren't careful. I find having some quiet time in the morning and getting my head planned around the day helps tremendously. If I have time, I exercise then, if not I work it into some other time of the day. I also keep a list of projects I would like to get done. I divide them by how much time they may take that way, if I have a few minutes, I may tidy up a small area, if I have a longer than expected time, I can do a project that takes a longer period of time. That keeps me from wasting my time (but I will say that putting your feet up and enjoying a few moments is not a waste of time!) and I already the list going so I don't have to think of what I could be doing. Enjoy. It is a privilege

  • Reply
    Carmel - Our Fifth House
    April 9, 2013 at 2:38 am

    Hope you had a great first day at your new job! 🙂 I'm a big fan of keeping a planner and I make lots of lists – that helps me to stay focused. Your outdoor space is gorgeous!

  • Reply
    Mrs. DeVore
    April 9, 2013 at 1:16 pm

    Love your new outdoor pillows! I thrive on structure and a schedule too, 'm a huge list maker and feel like it helps me get more accomplished.

  • Reply
    Ellie VanCaster
    April 9, 2013 at 2:34 pm

    Ditto on the list making-it's how I stay focused also. Excited for you on this new journey. It sure looks like a great spring break for everyone. I think you should clean your office as soon as possible to end that chapter-just saying. 😉

  • Reply
    Ellie VanCaster
    April 9, 2013 at 2:35 pm

    I forgot to say I make a 2 part list-
    one for do today or very soon and one part to add projects on so by the time I have time for them they aren't forgotten. That happens too frequently in my world.

  • Reply
    Eclectically Vintage
    April 10, 2013 at 12:40 am

    Congrats on your freedom! Enjoy the time doing what you love!

    I want to take my girls to Gettysburg – we love Hershey! Glad you had a great spring break.
    Kelly

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