I've found it much harder to fit everything in since I moved into a new home with my BF. There's just been a lot to do, and I now have a much longer commute to work (and most other things, too). Add in some sick pets, some minor health issues, the holidays, and some not-so-cooperative weather, and I've had a hard time establishing my routine. I'm trying to have some patience with myself though.
Prior to these recent developments, I tended to let a few things slack just a bit, e.g., my house was tidy but not spotless. I paid someone to tend to my small yard. She needed the money, I needed the time. I cooked food that could serve as leftovers. I learned to prioritize what I most wanted to do and then did that stuff in whatever time I had to do it. My BF refers to me as the Tasmanian Devil when I'm straightening up my house or running errands. It all boils down to time management, so I don't dilly dally over much. I get up early in the morning most mornings, which is key in my world. I'm struggling right now with the fact that BF does, and while I get up and putter around the house while he's still sleeping, I haven't taken it farther than that, although I intend to.
I, too, don't have kids and really marvel at how much my friends with kids do on the average day.
Live with intention. Walk to the edge. Listen hard. Practice wellness. Play with abandon. Laugh. Choose with no regret. Continue to learn. Appreciate your friends. Do what you love. Live as if this is all there is.
--Mary Anne Radmacher