This Thing Called Work, What a Time Sucker!

It's been almost a month since my return to full time work. Possibly because of all the hours I have been working, it seems much longer. However, due to all the unknowns, it seems much shorter.

I still don't have "the process" down. Part of me feels like I need to cut myself some slack--returning to full time work after being home over a year and working part time for 8 months is an adjustment. It would be an adjustment on its own, let alone when you have a child, a home, and a dog, who just learned the hard way squirrels are not black with a white stripe. The other part of me feels like a month is long enough and I should have this down (have I ever mentioned I have high self standards?).

So readers, perhaps your insight and suggestions can help me return to my previously perfect in every way self.

Still working on:
1. I have yet to clean my entire house at once. I know this is possible. I vaguely remember a life in which I did this and worked full time.

2. I haven't managed to fit in consistent workouts. I am starting to feel sluggish (and fat). I know I will feel better once my workout routine is in check, I just haven't gotten the system down yet.

3. I really prefer to make a weekly dinner menu, shop for said weekly menu, and prep things the night before. This saves so much time and guarantees a decent home cooked meal each night. While this may have been easier to accomplish during the winter months (hello crock pot season), I need to make this adjustment now before my son returns to school.

4. My bad long commute self is doing decently with my miles spent in a car, but I could probably use a little more work on not using words like "moron", "idiot", "seriously", and "wtf" while driving. At least not as often...it's not like I can't use my horn. Right?

Glimmers of sparkly shinning perfection are there though...seriously, break out your sunglasses people!

Got it:
1. I really need to keep my bed time consistent, I need my sleep and I don't wake up easily. My mom told me once that when I was a baby, she used to have to wake me up to eat. I am not shocked.

2. I am all around better when I have time for myself. Some days it's just 20 minutes, other days it's an hour. The point is I need it and everyone around me needs me to have it too.

3. I can drink coffee at 4:00pm and still go to sleep at night.

4. I can only do so much and sometimes things have to wait until the next day. Please return to breathing, I really have realized this. I swear I am not even looking at my blackberry.

5. Breathe. Absorb. Listen. Think. There's something to be said about being a sponge. Now if I could just figure out how to use one more consistently.