A little BIG word...how?

Wow, it's been a long time since I exercised the writing side of my brain. It's been a long time since I've exercised, period. I guess being a mom/ designer/child-care provider/homemaker/parent volunteer is keeping me busy. Not a shocker to those of you who also have more than one or two titles behind their name.

So what brings me to post today... other than I actually have more than a few free moments on this gray day to sit and contemplate my navel. Well, I guess what's on my mind is a little big word-- How?

Yep, how? Not original, I know. But it is a little word that brings up big topics. Such as--
How can I find the time to clean my house?
How can I find the time to process the remaining 40 lbs of apples in my garage?
How can I find the time to change the sheets?
How can I find the time to do the piles of laundry piling up?
How can I find the time to finish that sewing project I started more than a year ago?
How can I find the time to keep my creative juices flowing?
How can I find the time to exercise regularly?
How do I keep my daughter motivated to do her "jobs"?
How do I do I all need to do and still find time to play with my daughter?
How do I find new clients?
How do I find the time to finish the web training for the school district so I can actually update the school's web site that I promised to do 3+ months ago?
How do I find another dairy to deliver glass bottled milk in our area since the dairy we were ordering from stopped delivering?
How do I find the time to finish my book?
How do I find the time to update my Gluten-Free Guide with all the new GF recipes I've compiled or created?
OH, the "hows" just keep filling my brain. How, do I make it stop?

Well, I guess I don't. Right? Isn't this what it means to be a productive person? I could spend every "down" moment I have (maybe at most 5-10 on most days) being a lump on the couch like I did today. But really, all that did to me today was make me feel lazy and overwhelmed. Hence, the "how" question list above started to fill my brain.

But all this contemplating makes me wonder what I could do differently to feel more accomplished each day. I know the "to do" list will always be long and every growing. That's not really the problem. I love that I have things I need to do and things I want to do. What I don't particularly like these days is that I don't feel like I'm finishing anything.

Not a new problem for me, really. When I worked a traditional job in a traditional bureaucratic office, I found I always had an unfinished ever-growing to do list. But at least I could leave it a that bureaucratic office when I left it for the day.

Now that list is ever-present and full of empty check-boxes.

Hmmm... I don't think I have an answer today. But it feels good to not just contemplate it but put it out into the ether for comment. I know I'm not alone on this one. Any good ideas out there?

Well, now that that is off my chest, my 10 free minutes are up for the day. Off to pick up a kiddo from preschool.

No complaints...really. REALLY, no complaints. I'm much too busy to complain =)