which high desert are you in? The reason that I say this is because most of northern cal is headed for another freeze... so you can relax! :o)
Uh... my suggestion is... well, part of enjoying the garden is the part where there's always work to do. I wouldn't rush too much, there's puh LENTY of time. :o) Just set aside a few things a week to do, write them down, forget the rest, then when next week comes, write another to-do list, just do that and forget the rest... don't make too big of a list, just a few things...
Next year, maybe do some of the pruning earlier, so it's not so last moment. But remember, nothing HAS to be done, plants grow just fine without too much interference from people... so this is just for YOU, not for them. :o)

Hi heathen1:
We are in the So. CA HD right along the 15 Fwy., 2hr 30 min out of Las Vegas but just 30 min out of San Bernardino. Obviously since I haven't answered back until now, we indeed got that freeze also. This weekend should be very nice actually but I'm hearing about a storm heading our way. I have gotten further in my pruning of the roses so I'm a bit more relaxed. The roses were starting to sprout as we were having very mild temps of course fooling everything into sprouting. I guess what I'm trying to do is get the beds to a point where they are filled in better but going round and round with what to add. Any open planting area is wasting water and open to weeds so I always feel under the gun. Trying to be very focused on detail so that I don't overlook resources in the yard that need or could to be moved to finish off an area. You're going to slap your forehead when I drop this next one, I'm also going through evaluation for Adult ADD, so in my mind I have a billion things that all need to be done NOW. Unfortunately meds don't always relieve all the symptoms. Actually, this might be a great new garden forum, ADD Gardeners. We'd be the ones in our gardens at ahours running around to see if a plant has grown or a bulb started to sprout. I frequently go out and pull weeds at 1 am while the dogs are taking they're last potty break. Sometimes I can be pretty low key about it all but then some days I work sooo hard and come in so frustrated. You're right, making lists is the first suggestion made to ADD/ADHD'ers must do better at that.

I think the ADD explains it. I hardly do anything to my organic garden. It takes care of itself. I am going to join the Organic Procrastinators Club but I haven't gotten around to it yet.

I suggest you plant Joshua trees in the sand and leave it alone. You'll get annual flowers, some weeds, and then they will die out. That will free up a lot of time for housework.

If that isn't what you had in mind, tell us what you are doing? Pruning roses doesn't take that long. What else is going on?

I view gardening as a lifelong project. There will always be something to do and I like it that way. It should not create another problem for you, but should be something that makes you feel good about yourself and the world.

If you are overwhelmed, I suggest you don't start too many new projects (or any) until you feel you can enjoy them. Maybe plant a cover crop and build the soil instead of a garden that will cause you more work.

Minimize your stress and you will be happier and live longer. There will always be housework and garden work to be done. It never ends! The only thing we can change is how we feel about it.

Signed, Messy and disorganized Kim who is trying to enjoy life!

I hired a cleaning lady! It's a lot easier and cheaper to find a good cleaning lady than a gardener who will work to my standards! The house still gets pretty untidy in between cleaning lady visits during the spring though, which is our busiest gardening season here.

Dchall - Organic Procrastinators Club? Where do we sign up????

Eureka,

It is a constant process. Having felt the same way as you, last year I bought 2 Adirondack chairs and made a deal with myself. For every hour spent in the gardens, 10 minutes had to be spent sitting in the chairs enjoying the gardens and simply looking at them or closing my eyes and smelling them or other things. As the summer started winding down, I began to realize that I had truly enjoyed the gardens and had on occasion spent more time in the chairs than originally intended. Also, my lack of planning capabilities... well, the gardens have vision now.

So pull up a chair, grab a coffee, and sit down!

I have ADD... OVER achieving AIN'T my problem! :o) It's getting distracted! :o) On top of this, procrastination! :o) See? with all these problems, my garden still does well...