Finding the time for FUN during the week

I'm not sure how other people do it. Effectively managing your time and feeling like you get everything you want to do done. You know, like calling friends and family? How is it that those who I care most about it seem to fall to the bottom of the "to-do" list? Is it because I know they know me best and are most forgiving? But, to be perfectly frank & selfish, those are the items on my to-do list that I most enjoy! Why is it so tough to get everything done? I get up between 5 and 6 Monday through Friday and don't hit the bed until between 11 and 12 every day. Most nights, it is not uninterrupted sleep. So, yes, I cop to sleeping until 8 on weekend mornings.

Between getting the kids ready for daycare/school and actually getting to work, there's no spare time. While at work, I'm racing the clock. I squeeze a half-hour walk into my lunch break most days. Maybe that's an opportunity to break out the cell phone, but oh how I wish those weren't peak minutes. I'm cheap. I know. Then, there's the evening race. Getting home and getting the kids ready for bed, there's no time to spare. By the time the kids are asleep for the night, it's 9 p.m., and I still have gobs of laundry and cleaning up of the kitchen to do, not to mention dealing with issues like violations from the county (our front porch needs a railing) and doctor's bills that for whatever reason insurance chooses not to pay.

I wish there were more hours in the day to cuddle up with Tim for some good conversation and intimacy, more hours in the day to spend doing FUN things with the kids, more hours to call or write family and friends who are like family, more time for reading good books, and believe it or not, more time for exercise. All of those things are my priorities, and it seems impossible to find the time! Generally, fun seems to be reserved for weekends. Ideas, anyone on how to make your weekday longer? My guess is you're probably all struggling with similar issues. If not, though, please let me know what ideas/suggestions you have.