Solutions on the fly
I am the worst at routines. I try to set something up, start feeling good about it, then something comes up and gets in the way of the routine and it all falls to pieces. For example, I spent 9 days going for a walk at dusk, coming home and making a mug of hot apple cider and then getting my writing and blogging done before reading a bit and going to bed (usually pretty late, but still). I was feeling good about my writing, about my health, and was making better choices in order to keep the routine. Then I ran into a few days of pre-scheduled things in the evening, disrupting my evening routine, and now I've missed 3 days of writing/blogging and haven't gone on walks and I feel blah again.
The problem is I like routines too much. I like it when I don't have to think about what I'm supposed to be doing. Which is why I like having a regular work or school schedule rather than one that changes every week. I don't have to wonder if I'm supposed to be at work, I just know I am because it's always the same.
While writing this post, I had an idea. I was already thinking about how I never have to think about going to or being at work, because it's a foundational part of my day/week. But sometimes I have appointments or feel sick and so have to take time off from work. The taking of time off doesn't disrupt my routine of work, though. So I wonder if I could treat my evening routine like a job and give myself a time-off balance I can use for evening appointments or when I feel too sick or tired to get anything done.
It's amazing how just writing this blog post got me thinking of a solution to the problem I was complaining about.
Time to go make a spreadsheet.
Thoughts to share? I have a contact page now!