Yesterday, Miki at Theory of Daily linked to an interesting site with a series of posts on the issue of how people work. I didn’t respond to her question of how I work, because, for the past two months, in the wake of some adjustments, I’ve been struggling with the issue. Today I finally, and dramatically, adjusted my daily schedule again, after sensing the pressing need for a new routine.
Late last night, while folding laundry down in the basement laundry room, (rather than zoning out in front of the tv while performing the task), I simply folded and thought about ways to change my schedule and work habits. To wake up, get Kipp off to school, and plop down at my home desk for three hours was not working well—too many interruptions and distractions—doorbell, telephones, email, snail-mail--not to mention the awareness of household tasks still to be done and good food in the kitchen yet to be eaten. I would work, sporadically, distractedly, then attempt to exercise at mid-day, which is always such a break in the flow of the day.
I had given up my office downtown back in October, for reasons of marital compromise, but I quickly sensed it was not beneficial to give up the habit of getting out of the house each day in order to concentrate. I missed, too, that sense of coming back home after work afield, even if it is only part-time that I am away.
So, this morning, Dean and I got Kipp off to school at 7:50 am. I then dressed warmly, walked Seneca around the block and played fetch with him, dashed back in the house to assemble a gym bag and pack my work satchel. I got to the Y, exercised for an hour, showered and dressed. By that time it was only 10 am, the hour at which our small public library opens. There I sat at a table, spread my notes and outlines out, and worked for a good two and a half hours, concentrating hard. I was only interrupted once by the site of Dean walking by my window, on his way to the Y, telling me that he had just run into Kipp, on his way back from singing Christmas carols with his kindergarten class at the grocery store. (Wacky small town life where all this is possible.) On his way back from the Y, Dean arranged to have lunch with me and after lunch, I went to get tea at a sweet, funky little community-oriented cafe, doing additional work until 2:15.
By then it was time to pick up Kipp and flip over into domestic-mommy mode. We drove home and Kipp invited the neighbor boy over to play while I made beds, washed dishes, tidied the house, encouraged the boys to write and draw, and gave Seneca another session of fetch.
At 5:30 I cobbbled together a simple supper (steak, potatoes, salad, vegetable) and by 6:45 had the dishes washed and put away. I did a little piddly work at my desk while Kipp and his Dad watched Time Squad together, then I rustled Kipp up to bed and we read a book on castle life.
I took a hot bath, changed into my pajamas, and am now blogging—so happy having at having divided my day successfully. If only every day could run as smoothly and productively as today.
What produced the smoothness and happiness? The quiet planning I did the night before, while my hands were kept busy with a simple task, and then sticking to the plan, cutting out all distractions with a vengeance. Life cooperated too, by not sending anything unexpected my way.
As for tomorrow, it's Saturday. Who knows? The weekends always completely discombobulate me. There are tentative plans to go to Yoga, clean the fridge, wrap Christmas presents, and see the movie Spanglish.
11:25:36 PM 
|
|
