Work-paso related

[Mrs. E.]

Does anyone else have this problem. It seems I have so much work to do that I don't have time to ride my horses. Being up here in Northcentral Florida the weather is great for riding but, there is so much to do fences, painting, seeding, draging pastures. Always something needs repaired or stalls need some work, garden planted, so on and so forth. How does everyone find the time to enjoy themselves? I can't afford help, never had any help, would not know how to act with anyone helping. Suggestions please.

[CarolU]

Change your priorities.

I remember when we built the house. For 3 years I hardly rode at all between work, school, and working on the house. I looked at my horses one day and realized the summer was over and I had yet to ride once.

That was when I changed my priorities. On all nice days I get up and feed, do two hours of house work while they eat breakfast, ride until noon or 1:00, then start on project work. If I'm going to go for a full-day ride or horse show, I balance that with a full day house-project work.

If I don't schedule my time this way, I don't get to ride at all.

I grew up with a mother who drilled into me, "work before play." It was all to easy to put the work first to the exclusion of all else. I was much happier when I decided MY FUN time was a priority too.

[Carol Nelson]

Well, Mrs. E., you hit the nail on the head there. With 21 horses and twenty acres, and a breeding barn we're trying to get equipped and up and running, and being there are only two of us, there just ISN'T time to ride. The only time we get a horse out to saddle up is when there's company and they want to ride. Most the time we're just too plain tired when we do have a minute of spare time that we just plop ourselves down and sit...for him it's in front of the TV and for me, right here on the computer.
As far as priorities, I've got 'em ...my house is typically a disaster, but boy, I sure do have a clean barn and horseyard. Ha. Funny when you get older keeping a house spotless just doesn't seem to matter as much as it did when you were younger. ;-)

[Pam M]

I have this problem also! Back when I boarded my horses I rode several times a week. Now that they live with me, I feel lucky if I ride once a month! It's hard to make riding a priority when there's SOOOOOO much to be done to keep the place nice!

[pasohappy]

Well only have 3 horses, two I ride, one is retired. I was also finding that I was getting eveything else done, but no riding, so your right while they eat I do what I have to do in the house, and as far out side I leave that till after riding, such as cleaning the corral, yard work, or any fixing up I have to do. I ride both horses and then just relax out side doing what I have to do, and the riding is off my mine and I feel so much better now that the horses have been out and exercised. [/u]

[GeorgeGuns]

OMG I am so glad you posted this!!! I don't feel nearly so... singular now. I stink at time management, and really like Carol U's advice. My other problem is the mud.... I fantasized on the way home today about if I won the lottery, should I fix the drainage here or just buy another place... short cope but it got me home, lol.

[DebbieS]

I work full-time so it's hard to find time to ride. My 2 kids have lots of extra-curricular activities too (ballet/tap/kung fu/youth group). We also have an old house that we are remodeling constantly. And, of course in the summer, there's lots of yard work that needs to be done. Our yard is about 3 acres by itself.

I decided last spring that Sunday afternoon was my time to ride. Hubby stays with the kids and I get together with friends and ride.

Sometimes, I'll do a quick ride out my backyard with my son/hubby/mom on Saturday too. I normally clean house on Sat morning and get laundry started so it leaves Sunday free.

I'll admit, I've been known to play hookie from work on Friday if it's a super nice day too ;-)

[CarolU]

You know, something that I found helps, is a schedule. Just like you'd do at work, you set a schedule for yourself and KEEP TO IT!!!

I like to work training horses 3 days a week with a day of rest in between. My 3 days are Sunday, Wednesday and Friday. (yes, I took leave every Wednesday, April thru October, and worked comp time during the winter) This leaves Saturday open for trail rides and open shows. All horses in training are worked those 3 days for at least an hour.

I was thinking today about when I retire, adding addition time slots to my schedule. Gardening, irrigating, field work, painting, house plants, house cleaning (yuk), cooking (yum yum), and writing/drawing (I also design logos and do the GW newsletter) all need designated times. I find I get a LOT done when I make a schedule, I waste a lot of time when I don't.

This works for me. I hope it helps you too.

[DebbieS]

Carol, it sounds like you need to add more days to the week after you retire!!

I know if I have an odd day-off, that day is packed full of things to do - busier than my work days!!

Looks like you are going to be busy!!