New Routines and Thinking Outside the Home Office

Originally I was going to blog from here, but the rocks were too uncomfortable and I was worried about having my back to my bike in the dark. 

I can't believe it is Friday already!  This has been a very fast, and productive week.  I am on day 5 of the 15 Days to Freedom Blog Challenge; and on Day 14 of The Magic (day 13 was so incredibly awesome). I haven't actually watched the video for day 5 of the blog challenge but I am blogging anyway since I have only blogged once since beginning the series.

Then I sat down at a picnic table and was going to blog from here, but my (new) computer was giving me problems so I just relaxed for a bit instead.   

I have gotten so much out of it so far.  Day two, setting MIA's (most important actions) really kicked me into high gear and although I have been watching the videos daily and doing the actions (mostly), I just haven't gotten around to blogging--which was the original reason for doing the challenge and thus I am writing a blog today before doing the challenge. Even though I haven't been blogging daily I am taking two blog posts in a week as a win!

There is just too much to write about that has occurred in the the last four days so I will do a quick bullet list:

• Day 1 I decided that I would do my walking/biking in the mornings rather than in the evenings, but that has proved to be harder to implement than anticipated.  I work from home currently, but the goal is to be working from an RV in remote areas within the next year, so the new goal is to "practice" at being outside of a traditional home office and take my computer with me on my walk or bike ride and write overlooking the ocean (since that is where I go when I do my walks/rides). It now seems silly that I have imprisoned myself in my home office for the past nine years. 

• Day 2 I did choose my MIA to complete during the 15 day challenge--eek and I only have 7 days left to complete it.  It is to decide on a new program/promo piece for my day job, write it and get it sent out (which includes finding people to send it to). Didn't seem like a lofty goal when I set it--ha!

• Day 3 I downloaded Headspace (a guided meditation app) the first day - does it still count for today's challenge? I am loving it by the way.  I have mixed feelings about ALL my stuff being online--I once lost access to my financials because the program I was using stopped being free.  I have used Dropbox and will check out Asana today for project management because the truth is, my notes are spread throughout too many places. 

• Day 4 - I have done a great job at not getting into the distractions because I have been so busy. Outside of that I am interested in the app that lets me schedule out the email.  I like when apps let me schedule posts and such (and intend to check out Hootsuite). Now it is just a matter of getting these things done ahead of time so I can schedule things out. Cutting out the TV, which I did on Day 2 helped with distractions--fact checking the media is a big time waster for me. 

Okay, onto Day Five! 

Routine?! I Feign/Need Routine.

I'm doing Natalie Sisson's 15 Day Blog Challenge and she asked, "what is your daily success plan?" and I heard "routine". Just the idea of a routine sets my mind screaming. Silly, I know, but it does. Maybe if I call it a "ritual" instead...

My mother had a routine.  She would wake up, start her coffee, take a shower, read her book (with TV on) in her chair with her cup of coffee and then take that coffee to the bathroom where she put on her makeup just after waking me up. Same routine throughout her adult life.

I noted that her routine worked for her. She was on time and calm in the mornings getting ready for work. I have tried many times to have one, but was not successful--I am not a routine person--or am I?

I actually do have a routine.  Every morning when I wake up I quickly thank the universe for being alive (this is new to my routine) before hitting the bathroom which I am also thankful for.  Most days my stomach turns a bit when I think of my day (really further out than a day) as I walk into the living room, turn on the news, make a pot of coffee and watch the drama unfold.  That is what begins my day.  I watch the news for an hour and half (or so) and then proceed with whatever tasks are ahead of me (or get lost in the wilderness of the Internet).

That is my "at home" routine. I have often imagined what my day will look like, what my natural rhythm will be, when I am full time on the road.  I have been trying to incorporate some of that into my "at home" time. but those things (like walking/biking) are relegated for the end-of-the-workday, when in my ideal life they occur in the mornings.

Now that I see that I do have a routine it is simply a matter of making it work better for me. For some reason it is easier to "change" the routine than to "put one in place" since "I am not" a routine kind of gal.

What will my Daily Success Plan entail?

• Music instead of TV
• Some motivational messages to set the tone of the day (I do this already without regularity)
• Mindfulness/Meditation (I've tried to set my intentions or meditate in the mornings without a whole lot of success so I will check out the Headspace app)
• Walk, bike, or dance (in the morning).

I'll let you know how it goes.