I have finally solved a problem that has bugged me for months.  How can I  be insanely busy and still not do all the things I think I should be able to do?  This question kept frustrating me because  I’m super speedy at most of the things I do.

I crochet quickly and I type somewhere in the neighborhood of 120 wpm.  I read like lightning– devouring entire books  in mere hours or at most a few days.  Turns out it isn’t a matter of how much time it takes me, it’s a matter of the energy it takes.

If memory serves me, physics addresses this particular problem.  There is an equation that goes somewhat along the lines of:

Energy + Time = Velocity.

An easy way to understand this equation is to apply it to driving  your car.  If you wish to travel a set distance,  the amount of gasoline required remains fairly constant, whether you travel that distance quickly or slowly.  There is some wiggle room in there depending upon the efficiency of your car engine and the condition of the road surface.  But the amount of gasoline remains equivalent for all practical purposes.

In the equation Energy is a constant. The variables are Time and Velocity.  For my purposes Velocity represents the Amount of Work I can finish.

Turns out the problem isn’t I’m running out of Time, I’m running out of Energy. And of course, less energy =  more time needed to complete the tasks on my To-Do list.  The real trick is how do I harness more energy?  The answer is…no one can.

Time management and good self-care can certainly maximize how the energy is put to use.  But in the end there is only a finite amount of energy available to me on a daily basis.

Recently there have been lots of new opportunities opening up in my life.  I have started designing crochet patterns and selling my art and fiber creations. Opportunities for teaching hand health/healthy crafting and crochet are popping up.   But since I am dealing with a  finite amount of energy,  I need to shift things around to make more room (and energy) for the new.

So I’ve finally bowed to the wisdom of the ages and the science of physics.  I’ve reached a decision that I’ve been seriously wrestling with the past four months.

At the end of April I am retiring as a massage therapist.  It is a scary thought. In many ways  I have identified myself with that profession for over 11 years (more if I count the years I was in training).

As much as I love working with clients and helping them to feel better, the thing I love most is educating them on how to care for themselves so they aren’t back on my table in knots too quickly.  I will eventually continue my role as an educator with my writing and teaching classes on those subjects.

Like all changes in our lives this one promises to have its ups and downs. But I am really looking forward to having more energy to devote to my family and my creative work.

Yep, I realized it is really the truth.  Because right now– in fact for the past 3 weeks– my hands and wrists have not been happy with me.  Sad to say,  I am wearing this brace on my right hand for most of my days and nights. It’s really fun to type with…. Not….

I write about and talk about hand health. All. The. Time.  It’s part of the reason I am known as Mamas2hands.  Yet here I am ignoring my own advice.  I know better.

I know that if I crochet for 3 hours non-stop, things will hurt when I finally get up to take that desperately needed bathroom break.  Not just my hands, but also my neck and shoulders, and even my backside from sitting in the same spot and basically the same position for all those hours.

Now for my excuses. You knew I would have some, right?  It’s all a matter of perception. I am just going to crochet for a few minutes or work on the computer for a few minutes.  And really, that’s all they felt like.  A few minutes.  But the reality is that Einstein never created a formula for perceiving time, even though he had calculations for the relativity of time.

Only the old saying, “Time flies when you are having fun” can explain it fully.  Though I would modify that  …Time flies when you are too busy to breathe.  So my body has forcibly reminded me that I may no longer ignore my knowledge and must instead take better care of myself.  Starting with…I will remember to breathe.

AND I will go to bed at a reasonable hour AND get at least 8 hours of sleep.  I will drink lots of water and cut down on the amount of sugar I eat. I will do my daily stretches and I will take regular breaks from the computer and crocheting.

Most importantly I will forgive myself when I screw up doing all the above, because like everyone else I’m not really a hypocrite…I’m only human.