It's time to overcommit.
Full calendar, full heart - at least until I crash from exhaustion.
It’s been a busy few weeks, and it’s not slowing down. Despite my natural state (I love a quiet weekend at home!) I keep cramming things into my calendar, which is beginning to resemble a game of Tetris. It appears I’m not alone—I read two recent newsletters that both tackled the idea of to-dos in different ways.
First, Kara from Brass Ring Daily shared a twist on prioritization, which I can’t stop thinking about. Instead of removing things from your schedule, she suggests, pile them on and see what sticks.
I’ve already been doing exactly that (see Tetris reference above) so it wasn’t like I needed permission. Instead, I wanted approval, and Kara kindly granted it. Yes, overcommitting is a good way to live your life. Your days might be a bit more hectic than you’re used to, and that’s okay. Things will fall off your plate, but those aren’t failures. It’s just another way to measure what actually matters.
Then, I read Abigail’s recent thoughts on calendar invites, scheduling fun things, and how to balance the urge to over-plan with the ability to be spontaneous. (It’s a subscriber-only issue of This Needs Hot Sauce—a good reason to upgrade to paid!) I’m still working on spontaneity (I’m a sucker for a calendar invite) but the rest resonated deeply. Filling my calendar with things that matter, events I’m looking forward to, people I love, keeps me to connected to my community. I wish I could do all those things on a whim, but everyone is always so busy. If you want time with someone, you have to grab it.
When I inevitably start to get overwhelmed by all the fun I have planned, I remind myself there are only two boxes I need to check to feel like a functioning human being. The first, of course, is writing, which I usually do in the morning, as soon as I wake up. My sessions aren’t always long, but even fifteen minutes with my work-in-progress is enough to maintain my momentum and return to myself.
The second is exercise. At some point in the day, I need to get my heart rate up, lift heavy things, or stretch my body. This is for mental reasons as much as it is for physical ones—I have a touch of anxiety (don’t we all?) and exercise keeps me on an even keel.
As long as I can ensure those two pieces fit into my day, the rest is up for grabs. And oh, I’ve been grabbing! Lately my weeknights and weekends are packed. A trip to New Jersey to see my nephews, hosting a Girls with Goals weekend, back to back camping trips, after work happy hours, and a summer itinerary that’s already filling up. My Google Calendar is buckling under the weight of all these plans, and it feels good. It feels like life, especially after the last few years.
Of course, it’s not all social afternoons and fun adventures. Sometimes, I make mistakes. Double-booking a Saturday and accidentally letting someone down. More mid-week drinks than I prefer. A missed newsletter here and there. Draft #5 of my novel which I still haven’t finished, despite checking the writing box daily.
Once, I read a quote about writing a book while working a full time job. Someone asked the author if it was possible, and she said, “Yes, of course. It’ll just take longer.”*
This is how I feel about my job, my calendar, my life. I want to do everything, see everyone, go everywhere. And I can—in time. It might take a little longer, and I’m okay with that. If there’s one thing writers are good at, it’s patience.
*If you know who said this or where I heard it (your newsletter? totally possible!) let me know in the comments!
Snack Break
Last weekend, we had a very specific craving for Bahn Sai, a local food truck that specializes in Asian fusion street food. A quick internet search later, we figured out which brewery they were parked at for the evening, and headed that way for beers, bowls, and cobra fries, which are smothered in sriracha, aioli, hoisin, green onions, and red pepper. A perfect order for a fun, spontaneous, low-key date—no calendar invite required. 🍟
Relatable Recommendations
Reading: I just finished Curtis Sittenfeld’s new novel, Romantic Comedy, which I found utterly delightful. Sometimes you just need a feel-good love inspired by the SNL writers room, and this one delivered all that and more. Like I said: DELIGHTFUL.
Clicking: This article about “quiet ambition” gets me. I’m obsessed with this Instagram account that features recipes made from no more than 5 Trader Joe’s ingredients. I made this baked ravioli dish for a Tuesday night book club, and it was fast and delicious—the perfect mid-week combo. Finally, I loved this recent issue of My Sweet Dumb Brain, in which Katie uses her birthday to reflect on some big things. You know I love a birthday reflection!
Buying: One of my 2023 goals was to reduce my consumption of single-use plastic. The most delightful way I’ve accomplished this so far is by shopping at Grove for household things, like dish soap and laundry detergent. If you want to try it and get a free gift, use my referral code!
Planning: All the things! Next on the docket: two straight weeks of travel, both work-related. First stop: Charlotte, NC for my company’s annual user conference (my favorite work event of the year!) Next stop: Florence, Italy for my husband’s work conference, because I’m not about to let him go to my favorite city by himself! I wasn’t kidding about being busy…
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I found much of this post to be so relatable! :D Some really great reminders in here. Thanks for sharing. :)
Appreciate the shout out and LOVE the Tetris comparison (I can play that game for hours...) but especially grateful for your reminder that an overflowing calendar of commitments can feel like “life” and how good and necessary this part of life can feel. We get to do all this.