Did you ever keep doing the same steps again and again, just by habit? Kind of like the directions on the shampoo in you shower? You know, "Lather. Rinse. Repeat if necessary."
That has been life around here lately. Get up, eat breakfast, take a shower, get ready, work at the desk, half hour lunch, work some more, make dinner, eat, read a bit, then bed. Repeat. The variaition has been while traveling. Up even earlier, breakfast in the lobby, out to car, meeting, lunch, more meeting, dinner at a restaurant, back to hotel, shower and bed. Repeat until drive day home. Usually a very long drive.
If routine is a favorite then GREAT. However, it wears one down- slowly. Especially the travel. Understand. I LIKE MY JOB. Being gone a lot is tough and the, "Lather. Rinse. Repeat." is killing me. Working at home takes away that lovely feeling of clicking off the light, closing the office door and leaving every night. Working in the field caused me to be out more so it didn't bother me near as much to have a home office. Now my clothing closet is in my office so even on days off there is a stark reminder of the work waiting on Monday.
This week, after a couple months of travel and work, my allergies and asthma kicked in and the couch was my nest for a few of days. There is nothing worse than being sick and having your office and cell phones ringing. Several times they were answered and it just made the day more upsetting.
The goal now is to set boundaries on my work. Having it here at home (the office is visible from my curerent typing spot) forces me to set limits. So unless adding, "Get Sick." to my "Lather. Rinse. Repeat." routine sounds like fun it is time for even more change in my life. Change on top of change.
So the work cell is in the office and will stay there until Monday. I am considering moving my closet to the other spare room. Right now though that seems like too much work. My friend Anna messaged me about a women's kayak class in a couple weeks and we are going. That will be great fun and get me out of the house for a couple of days.
My friend Karen invited me to a yoga class she is teaching. This week was out due to the unanticipated couch time. However, next week my yoga mat will be parked up front at Shangri -La for her class. At times it is hard to put yourself out there, especially when one is tired and stressed - usually that is when it is best to put yourself out of your day to day routine.
Work has been my cocoon since December and now it is time to spread my wings a bit in the sun. Once my chest clears up that opens up even more opportunity. Running? Hiking? The Beach? Maybe even all of them.
Anything but, "Lather. Rinse. Repeat."
