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Take Time to Look Up From the Computer

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with Kirby Fine Homes

Hmmm, I just noticed I have an even 90,000 points. What are the odds that you would hit an even number like that. With the way the points are calculated, I cannot even imagine how rare this must be. I also cannot believe I have been on Active Rain this long. It just seems like yesterday that I started blogging and had no clue what I was doing. Seventeen months later, here I still am, clicking away.

There are people who were blogging years before I even knew the thing existed. If you have been on Active Rain awhile, then you know who they are. Where will I be in the next year? Where will you be? Will you still be typing away here on AR?

 The last few weeks I have taken a step back from blogging. One reason is that I have been really busy with buyers, and the other is that I am just enjoying time with the kids. Like John Lennon says, life is what happens while you're making other plans. I have found that sometimes blogging can consume me, and I forget to look up from the computer. The other day my son was trying to get my attention, and I was so busy blogging that I didn't hear him.

When I finally felt him tugging my arm, I realized that, much like a video game consumes our children, so has blogging consumed parts of my life. At that moment, I realized that maybe I should take a step back and make sure I am not missing life as it happens. I decided to make a plan for my blogging.

My new goal is to only blog when my children are asleep. That means I will mostly be blogging at night, like right now. Have you thought about how blogging effects those around you?  Do you no longer talk to your spouse because your head is buried in a laptop?  I realized both I and my husband would have our heads in laptops at the same time. Now I make sure to close them and take time with ourselves.

We live in a world where technology surrounds us. It has become so much a part of our daily routine that we forget life with out it. Yesterday I stepped away from the TV, computer, and phone, and went for a long walk with my family. I even took photographs of nature after a spring rain. What fun it was to be free. When was the last time you were free?

Comments (17)

Marchel Peterson
Results Realty - Spring, TX
Spring TX Real Estate E-Pro
Jennifer, my children have left the nest but I know that my husband gets tired of my blogging. The good news is that he goes to bed early and I go to bed late so there's my blogging time. Enjoy those children while you can because before you know it they will have flown the coop.
May 04, 2008 03:32 PM
Lindsey Hasford
Edina Realty - Elk River, MN
Bringing you home...
Jennifer - I do a lot of blogging when kids are sleeping. I also try to work a little while they are awake. It definitly takes a balance! Hubby would like me on the computer less, but he's just watching the tube anyways. At least this makes me "feel" productive!
May 04, 2008 03:36 PM
Jennifer Kirby
Kirby Fine Homes - Minneapolis, MN
The Luxury Agent
Marchel - I have two boys who are three and 18 months. Now is the time I do not want to miss with them. There comes a time when you have to make a choice on what matters most to you. Right now, blogging is coming in forth or fifth.
May 04, 2008 03:37 PM
Jennifer Kirby
Kirby Fine Homes - Minneapolis, MN
The Luxury Agent
Lindsey - the hardest part about being a mom and a real estate agent is balancing the two. There are times when I have to tell a client I will call them back in a few hours as I am in a "meeting". Actually I am with my kids, but clients and agents don't need to know that. Other times I have to tell the kids mommy needs to answer a call and that I will be a few minutes...they are very great to me and understand. The one thing I don't want them to ever feel is second fiddle to work.
May 04, 2008 03:40 PM
ELENA KATARSKY
Weichert Realtors - TradeMark - Shavertown, PA
Absolutely No Alternative!

Is it true?

I'm new at this bloging and I'm not that good with computers. I see very interesting views.

I could understand why you have to set up goals, In this business we don't have much time and if we have few free hours we try to market ourself or find new ways of making more money. at least that is how I feel. I think you are doing the right thing, my kids are older now and they have there own life ahead, I did dedicate most of the day to my two daughter and I could say now I'm proud of them. Or I should say I'm proud of my work.

Keep up with the good work.

May 04, 2008 03:42 PM
Stephen Adams
Keller Williams Realty - Leesburg, VA

Hi Jennifer,

I recently joined AR and have even done the contest,  "Give It Your Best Shot" already, check it out sometime and you will know that I most definitely feel your pain.  However, you also have a gift - AWARENESS.  And that is half the battle.  The time spent (or not) with our kids and loved ones cannot be restored.  However, finding a balance between business and family/personal life helps me to find the time spent richer.  I'm definitely not perfect at it, and - wow, 17 months! - hope to find the benefits of using AR soon.  The ironic thing about this site even when I'm not commenting is that I can learn tips and tricks by just reading in the 5 or 10 minute slots of extra time I might have during the day.  There certainly are more ironies that that, but I'm too tired to go further...it's time to go to sleep for me so that when my son wakes up in the morning for me to spend the day with I can be fully present and in the moment.

Have a prosperous week and Best of luck on finding the balance :) 

May 04, 2008 03:45 PM
Jennifer Kirby
Kirby Fine Homes - Minneapolis, MN
The Luxury Agent
Elena - thanks. I am at the beginning of my journey with my kids and I don't want to miss any of it. Blogging can consume you when you get on a roll. AR points can consume you when race to pass the next person and rise up the ladder, so it is important to put the laptop down and smell the roses every now and then.
May 04, 2008 03:46 PM
Jennifer Kirby
Kirby Fine Homes - Minneapolis, MN
The Luxury Agent
Stephen - LOL, I know being tired the next morning because I was up late blogging. Sometimes I have to let AR posts slide and concentrate on my outside blogs...other times it is the reverse. Awarness is so important, but many people miss it.  Being independent contractors where most of us work out of home is very hard because we have to balance our home life with work.  We can't leave for work and take a break. I would not have it any other way though, and refuse to go back to corportate America.
May 04, 2008 03:51 PM
Charlottesville Solutions
Charlottesville Solutions - Charlottesville, VA

rule number 1, take the work when it comes, blogging will always be there. Family, Work, Blog (in that order).

Your Friend in Charlottesville Virginia!

May 04, 2008 11:22 PM
Jennifer Kirby
Kirby Fine Homes - Minneapolis, MN
The Luxury Agent
Charles - being a newer parent, the hardest thing to do was put aside what I want to do, and do what is best for my kids.
May 06, 2008 08:43 AM
Alex Mordas
EarthSTEPS - Tallahassee, FL
Green Building Consultant

Jennifer,

 

Nice post. I'm struggling myself with the attention thing. I have two kids: 17 months and 5 months, and the 17 month old will bang on my office door if i try to work while he is up - like right now.. ;-) Luckily my wife and I have a pretty good agreement in terms of time-share for the evenings. Still, as beneficial as AR seems to be, sometimes I just have to stop my blog time to get up and go wrestle around with my oldest son. 

May 06, 2008 10:17 AM
Jennifer Kirby
Kirby Fine Homes - Minneapolis, MN
The Luxury Agent
Alex - my three year old is pretty good. We will make deals....I get 15 mintues on the computer, then I have to go play. Sometimes though I will get an important phone call, and have to run to my bedroom to lock the door so I can talk in peace without the kids in my ear. I am in the process of training them to not talk when I am on the phone...it works about 50% of the time, then we have a talk about it afterwards, explaining how phone calls can be important for mommy. They are starting to understand, as they will get on the play phone, and tell me "it is way important mommy".
May 06, 2008 11:02 AM
Gary Woltal
Keller Williams Realty - Flower Mound, TX
Assoc. Broker Realtor SFR Dallas Ft. Worth
Jennifer, good point about not letting things consume you. Everything in life is about balance.
May 06, 2008 12:55 PM
The Dave Ruwe Homes Team
Re/Max Lakeshore - Grand Haven, MI
Realtors

Jennifer, excellent point. I am usually blogging or checking other blogs while watchin TV. My kids are older and not around much, but I do need to pay attention that I am not ignoring my wife. It is very easy to get consumed by this.

Dave

May 06, 2008 01:06 PM
Cyndee Haydon
Charles Rutenberg Realty - Clearwater, FL
727-710-8035 Clearwater, Beach Short Sales Luxury Condos &Homes
Jennifer - all too true - that's why we just took the plunge as a family to go to hawaii for 2 weeks this July - it's been much too long!! Like you nite's only idea ...hmmmm P.S. Love  you photos girl!!  
May 07, 2008 04:21 AM
Jennifer Kirby
Kirby Fine Homes - Minneapolis, MN
The Luxury Agent

Cyndee!!!  how are you??? Haven't heard from you in soooo long!  Hawaii?  I love you girl, but going there just isn't fair to the rest of us. I have never been so take some great photos and share when you get back!

Dave- it is even harder to balance when you have a spouse. If they don't understand blogging, then that could become a problem. I just always remind my husband that he is the one who bought me my first "how to blog" book.

May 07, 2008 04:24 AM
Cyndee Haydon
Charles Rutenberg Realty - Clearwater, FL
727-710-8035 Clearwater, Beach Short Sales Luxury Condos &Homes
Jennifer - I know ...isn't Hawaii just totally decadent :) - We owe it to our kids too who have 2 parents glued to laptops -lol Keeping busy - have 2+ outside blogs and business is busy - I will take some amazing photos and of course I'm excited to get to meet up with Woo Hoo Sally - What's new with you???    
May 07, 2008 04:31 AM