Time management and feeling overwhelmed

[Kai C]

Hey guys, it's been a while for me. I got into Okinawa almost a month ago and as anybody who's moved around a lot knows, this shit's stressful. Just finally got my stuff back 2 days ago....I shipped everything in November. So it was the first time getting to play a guitar in almost a month since I left my traveling one back in the US. And I've been trying to draw and do art again. And go out and experience the local surroundings. And learn Japanese. And manage work. And manage working out. And this new unit is hella micromanaging so work even bleeds into my off hours. It sounds like a lot and honestly it feels like a lot right now; like I have too many goals and not enough hours in the day to accomplish them. Does anybody have any tips on managing...well, life?

And if you get the chance to come to Okinawa or Japan, it's definitely worth it. Outside of work I love it so far.

 

[Andrew Milner]

Hey there. I highly recommend you try and find time to read this book: https://www.amazon.com/Secrets-Effective-Time-Investment-Achieve/dp/1511312424.

But the gist of it from what I managed to write down is like this:

- list and rank the different aspects of your life in order of importance (aka priorities in life)
- write actions for those priorities
- benefits you hope to achieve from making your priorities a priority
- what are you willing/not willing to sacrifice?
- how fast do you think you need to achieve these goals?

It's all about what's important to you. I've spent literal years thinking my programming career and position are important. Only in the last few months did I realize it's meaningless and I was thinking it's more important because people around me told me it's important.

This also gave me an idea for another post.

 

[Dominik Gräber]

Hey guys, it's been a while for me. I got into Okinawa almost a month ago and as anybody who's moved around a lot knows, this shit's stressful. Just finally got my stuff back 2 days ago....I shipped everything in November. So it was the first time getting to play a guitar in almost a month since I left my traveling one back in the US. And I've been trying to draw and do art again. And go out and experience the local surroundings. And learn Japanese. And manage work. And manage working out. And this new unit is hella micromanaging so work even bleeds into my off hours. It sounds like a lot and honestly it feels like a lot right now; like I have too many goals and not enough hours in the day to accomplish them. Does anybody have any tips on managing...well, life?

And if you get the chance to come to Okinawa or Japan, it's definitely worth it. Outside of work I love it so far.

I can Imagine it being really stressfull but also exciting! I think you should start slow, Not doing everything at once. You'll surely need some time to Develop a Routine. So maybe for now Pick days where you really practice guitar but don't Work Out. If you feel Like that day leave any of those two and Spend a while drawing. You have time, No need to Rush Things.
Also, I would LOVE to See Okinawa someday!!

 

[Kai C]

@Andrei Moraru I'll check out the book. Thank you for the recommendation. I've at least heard the point about listing priorities. Although a large part of the anxiety is not actually knowing which has the higher priority. Work has the highest but honestly I hate what I do and there's no room for change until this contract is over in a few more years. However it is a need and it has many AMAZING benefits. I've only just now in the last month figured a path that I'd much rather take instead of this crappy job.
Past that I haven't figured out what's the priority. As far as the arts go, I draw and play guitar as a means of fun. But my ambition and being surrounded here by amazing players leads me to always seem more and it's hard to keep sight of what's fun.
It definitely feels like I have so much I want to do and yet not enough time off to do it. So I'll really meditate on what you were saying with picking out priorities.

 

[Kai C]

@Dominik Gräber Thanks for the recommendation brother. It has been really exciting, just spent the entire day out in Naha City with a coworker shopping and eating. And that was super relaxing. These days fly by so quickly. At least working out is covered at work here unlike where I transferred from. And I can probably take study material to try and learn Japanese on my lunch break or something. I'll try what you said and split up the rest by days.

 

[Andrew Milner]

@Andrei Moraru I'll check out the book. Thank you for the recommendation. I've at least heard the point about listing priorities. Although a large part of the anxiety is not actually knowing which has the higher priority. Work has the highest but honestly I hate what I do and there's no room for change until this contract is over in a few more years. However it is a need and it has many AMAZING benefits. I've only just now in the last month figured a path that I'd much rather take instead of this crappy job.
Past that I haven't figured out what's the priority. As far as the arts go, I draw and play guitar as a means of fun. But my ambition and being surrounded here by amazing players leads me to always seem more and it's hard to keep sight of what's fun.
It definitely feels like I have so much I want to do and yet not enough time off to do it. So I'll really meditate on what you were saying with picking out priorities.

No one said it's going to be easy. If you hate what you do (welcome to the club), then maybe a mindset shift might help. You might feel that work is important because everyone around you says that it's the be-all-end-all of things. I tried to view myself as a software developer for seven years. I am not a software developer. Never have been, never will be. Sure, I worked software development jobs and I want to work them because you know, I kinda have to eat.

But I no longer view myself as a software developer. I can't think like one, I DETEST hustle culture, I detest frameworks that have new releases every 6 months. So I finally came to peace with the fact that I am not a software developer. I want to make music, I want to be a musician. Now that I know that, I can view software development as a side thing, that I use to fund my main goal.

You might view things differently and that's ok. What I want to say is that you will need some alone time, no distractions, no nothing, in which to think this through. What I did when I tried figuring this out is to go on walks during my lunch break after I've eaten in order to be able to tune out and block all the chit chat from my office.

I hope you get what I'm saying. The tl;dr version is that you need to figure this out on your own, in whatever spare time you can muster. No one knows what's more important to you other than yourself.

 

[carlosmqr]

I think is normal in the begining that you feel like that, just try to relax for now and do what you feel like you want to and have time to...was the same with me when I moved to UK I would say the first six months were a "nightmare" until I get settled. We are all different but with me I just let the things flow until I actually felt ok with everything and have all my routines again. Most of all try to enjoy the experience!!

 

[Edward John]

I think is normal in the begining that you feel like that, just try to relax for now and do what you feel like you want to and have time to...was the same with me when I moved to UK I would say the first six months were a "nightmare" until I get settled. We are all different but with me I just let the things flow until I actually felt ok with everything and have all my routines again. Most of all try to enjoy the experience!!

Don't worry friend, I've lived in the UK my whole life and I'm still not settled.

 

[Calvin Phillips]

Lives are busy. Even the fun ones. Here's my list of things i switch in and out.

Sleep
Work
Sports (3 hour hockey game that usually is 2 thanks to pvr) usually 2 to 3 times a week.
Video games (you need that guitar break.)
Then theres the usual stuff that you cant avoid.. showers.. bathroom. Etc.
Weekends I have ball hockey with my bro.. that's another 3 hours that day

Seems small. I left smaller things out. But when you look at the time placement..

Sleep= 6-7 hours
Work= 12 hours 5 days a week (including 2 and from time)
Right there is like 18 hours. So everyday i have 6 hours to myself weekday.

Usually its 3 and 3 morning and night about a hour morning wise is shower and whatnot. Then 2 hours probably gaming before work and guitar after. If theres a game I'll try to guitar before work since the game takes the night hours away. Things switch up daily. If you can properly rotate your priorities around you will be fine. I cant ever play daily myself. Busy lives get busier then older you get.

I wish I had the time jak does to do a daily 5 hour jam lol. But if I did that I'd probably burn out due to work.get.home exhausted i could never do 5 hours after. Lol

 

[Kai C]

@Andrei Moraru Thank you for that. You're definitely right. I was really hoping someone here would have the answers but like you said I'm going to need to figure this one out myself. Everything just takes a little time doesn't it.

@carlosmqr It definitely is an adjustment haha. I've moved all my life but this was the first time I've moved 100% by myself and it was an overseas move. So I still have so much to do to get settled in.

@Calvin Phillips I'd definitely burn out too if I was doing the schedule Jak was on. But that's what it takes when you aspire to be a professional. I always wonder what it would be like if I started solely focusing on one thing and try and make that a career path. But then I feel like I'd miss out on all the other things that have presented themselves along the way. Gotta stop and smell the roses

Thank you guys for the responses. I love this family

 

[TreSavedge]

Just a shot in the dark. You must be in 3rd MEU?

 

[Kai C]

Just a shot in the dark. You must be in 3rd MEU?

Nope

 

[Andrew Milner]

@Andrei Moraru Thank you for that. You're definitely right. I was really hoping someone here would have the answers but like you said I'm going to need to figure this one out myself. Everything just takes a little time doesn't it.

It does take time. And aside from maybe your parents and loved ones, other people don't have your best interest at heart. Especially the ones from work (maybe not all of them are that bad, but most people tend to be). I learned that the hard way. They say they do, but they don't. It's good to ask for opinions of course, but take them with a grain of salt. Not everything will fit with your beliefs and wants.

 

[Calvin Phillips]

I mean if I had more time daily I'd probably play more. My jam used to be hours long years ago when I had the time but now I find especially alone I start to think of other things. I guess what I'm saying is the motivation slips away as the jam goes on unless i am determined to do something.