Today I realized that I've been waiting for The Second Shift.
This spring has been so long in coming that I've been able to put off cleaning the 27 windows in our house. I love having clean windows and because we live on the lake, surrounded by trees, we get condensation build up that requires a bit more elbow grease than usual. As the weather cleared and I stared at the dirty glass, I starting moaning to my husband Doug about how much work those windows would require. His response? "There is no second shift so you'll just have to do it yourself." Second shift I asked? "Yes, he replied," somewhat emphatically adding "when I worked in a large manufacturing plant years ago we knew that anything our crew didn't get done would be finished up by the second shift."
Ah, ha, I thought. That's what I need - a Second Shift! Suddenly I realized that I had been waiting for my own version of the a Second Shift. And I'd been doing it with more things than just windows. I did it with filing paperwork. I did it with my bookkeeping. I did it with research on a project. I did it with something as simple as taking the compost bucket out.
Procrastination is not uncommon when overwhelm sets in. Many women I speak with in coaching or retreats admit to feeling overwhelmed with job, relationship or family responsibilities. But in many cases, there is no Second Shift. Some things we just have to do ourselves and the sooner we do them, the less stress ... and internal drama ... we create for ourselves.
What are you putting off today in hopes that the Second Shift will handle it? What are you avoiding that could be managed without drama?
Gotta go - windows to clean!
This spring has been so long in coming that I've been able to put off cleaning the 27 windows in our house. I love having clean windows and because we live on the lake, surrounded by trees, we get condensation build up that requires a bit more elbow grease than usual. As the weather cleared and I stared at the dirty glass, I starting moaning to my husband Doug about how much work those windows would require. His response? "There is no second shift so you'll just have to do it yourself." Second shift I asked? "Yes, he replied," somewhat emphatically adding "when I worked in a large manufacturing plant years ago we knew that anything our crew didn't get done would be finished up by the second shift."
Ah, ha, I thought. That's what I need - a Second Shift! Suddenly I realized that I had been waiting for my own version of the a Second Shift. And I'd been doing it with more things than just windows. I did it with filing paperwork. I did it with my bookkeeping. I did it with research on a project. I did it with something as simple as taking the compost bucket out.
Procrastination is not uncommon when overwhelm sets in. Many women I speak with in coaching or retreats admit to feeling overwhelmed with job, relationship or family responsibilities. But in many cases, there is no Second Shift. Some things we just have to do ourselves and the sooner we do them, the less stress ... and internal drama ... we create for ourselves.
What are you putting off today in hopes that the Second Shift will handle it? What are you avoiding that could be managed without drama?
Gotta go - windows to clean!
