For the past several years, there has been absolutely no routine to my life. Bedtime? Whenever I get to it, and wherever I happen to be for work at the time. I'll wake up depending on what's going on at the office. What's for dinner? Ask me at 7 p.m. For the most part, this lack of of routine has been work-inflicted, but I take some responsibility, for letting the various tides of my workday bash me against the rocks.
As part of my resolution to live quietly and for myself, I notice myself slipping into small daily and weekly rituals and...well, maybe I'm getting old, but I find it downright comforting. For instance, in the morning, I get up now and make myself a cup of coffee, which I drink at my kitchen table while listening to CBC, rather than rushing into JJ Bean or Starbucks on my way to work, if I have time. When I get home, I know I'm either just back from the gym, or on my way upstairs to the gym, and I like the routine of coming home, feeding Currie, and jumping in the shower post-workout while dinner's cooking. I enjoy knowing I'm going to spend 30 minutes at the end of my day in peace and quiet, reading or scribbling in my journal, in my jammies, with my cat on my lap and the fireplace on. I like heading to the Roundhouse every Wednesday to meet my friends for Zumba. I look forward to my Sunday night visits to Acme Cafe to gab with the staff and enjoy whatever the day's pie is. The predictability of it brings me comfort.
These may sound like no-brainers to you, and these routines basic and pedestrian, but my life has been chaotic and hectic for as long as I can remember, and I'm revelling in these comfortable little ruts I'm settling into. The only stress for me is when work interferes (which happens, of course, and more often than I'd like) and I miss out on one of my little rituals. Next up: learning to go with the flow.
As part of my resolution to live quietly and for myself, I notice myself slipping into small daily and weekly rituals and...well, maybe I'm getting old, but I find it downright comforting. For instance, in the morning, I get up now and make myself a cup of coffee, which I drink at my kitchen table while listening to CBC, rather than rushing into JJ Bean or Starbucks on my way to work, if I have time. When I get home, I know I'm either just back from the gym, or on my way upstairs to the gym, and I like the routine of coming home, feeding Currie, and jumping in the shower post-workout while dinner's cooking. I enjoy knowing I'm going to spend 30 minutes at the end of my day in peace and quiet, reading or scribbling in my journal, in my jammies, with my cat on my lap and the fireplace on. I like heading to the Roundhouse every Wednesday to meet my friends for Zumba. I look forward to my Sunday night visits to Acme Cafe to gab with the staff and enjoy whatever the day's pie is. The predictability of it brings me comfort.
These may sound like no-brainers to you, and these routines basic and pedestrian, but my life has been chaotic and hectic for as long as I can remember, and I'm revelling in these comfortable little ruts I'm settling into. The only stress for me is when work interferes (which happens, of course, and more often than I'd like) and I miss out on one of my little rituals. Next up: learning to go with the flow.