You know when life feels overwhelming, and the timing of everything couldn’t be worse — and it’s always the week before vacation? Our latest vacation – and the week leading up to it – was no different, and I bet you’ve been there too.
I started that particular week with a to-do list that could double as a CVS receipt — errands, bills, appointments, and all the little things that make adulting fun. I own a business and had quite a few projects to finish. My daughter had a swim meet that week, plus we had a 2+ hour-long IEP meeting at school (but I’ll save my thoughts on that for another day). And then the kitchen sink started leaking, which turned into a garbage disposal replacement, which somehow led to a clogged-up dishwasher.
The best part, though? Our three cats – Donut, Walter, and Kevin – came down with ringworm. We’re still not sure how it happened. We had to give three cats a bath twice a week, during which they had to sit with the special shampoo on their fur for 10 minutes before rinsing. And then we had to give the three cats medicine each day. If you have cats, you know how well this went over.
Oh, and since it was ringworm, I had to wash everything in our house and put the rest in trash bags (like when you get lice). And since everything had to be disinfected at the highest heat, it took me three hours to complete just one load of laundry.
Everything was fine.
We’ve all been there. It’s the price you pay for owning a home, going on vacation, or simply being an adult. So, what can we do about those weeks?
For starters: Name what matters. This is one of my favorite principles from The Lazy Genius Way.
What mattered most to me were health and finances; no one was going to enjoy our vacation otherwise. I started by tackling the hard stuff: the ringworm, the leaking sink, and the mountain of work deadlines waiting for me.
Everything else – signing those papers, paying bills that weren’t immediately due, planning out the Halloween costumes – had to wait.
Somehow, we survived and made it on vacation.
So the next time life piles it on, start by naming what matters. And if that doesn’t help, take my other advice: draw a hot bath, grab a good book, and remind yourself that this season, too, shall pass.
