Searching for Time

I am totally agreeing with Nova about the need for time - not only time for reading and other important things but time for life in general.

I consider myself a pretty time managed person - I'm organised and structured (sometimes to the point of obsessiveness!) and I have 3, yes 3, diaries. I know where I need to be, when I need to be there and I'm always there. The problem with all of this is that I never seem to have any of that magical stuff known as "free time"! If I try to structure any of that into the equation it just doesn't seem to happen.

I know I shouldn't be complaining - I don't have children, my cat is fairly self-sufficient and my partner really is a gem - but I still struggle to find this precious thing we know as time. I do work full time and have recently started my PhD (if anyone can tell me how to squeeze this one in please let me know!) so I know these things take up energy and time but there needs to be a balance.

My other dilemma is that when I do take some time for myself (i.e. reading) I feel as though I should probably be spending my time in other ways - the guilt settles in!

I know I am really just trying to work this all out, and I'm really the only one who can do anything about this, but any solutions/ideas would be greatly appreciated!

The photo at the top of this post comes from Anna's gorgeous blog - I recommend checking it out if you are wanting to discover bliss in images. I will concentrate on this image and imagine myself in the seat...

Reading Spaces

We had one of our bookclub gatherings yesterday and one of my friends was asking me about my favourite space/place to read. She was saying she just wasn't able to get comfortable and read in bed and she really liked to read outside in her backyard in the sun - but given the winter weather we are currently having in New South Wales that isn't really an option at the moment.

I do like to read in bed but I also like to sleep in bed so I find that unless I am VERY alert I tend to nod off and the reading falls by the wayside. I do have a comfy reading area set up in our lounge room with a cosy chair, reading table and lamp. Will post photos of this another day. I have been inspired by an Australian woman who has set up a business designing special spaces for people based on their particular work/hobby/inspirational needs. The website is http://www.aplaceforspace.com.au/ and I have borrowed the image in this post from there - this looks like a lovely reading space to me.