💾 Archived View for lesogorov.site › glogs › 2305 › Routine-Happiness.gmi captured on 2024-02-05 at 09:38:35. Gemini links have been rewritten to link to archived content
⬅️ Previous capture (2023-05-24)
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After being stretched too thin earlier this year, it was nice to have a stint where I could really relax.
Once I got that 5Th shift dropped and my schedule got shuffled around, my week opened up dramatically. I found myself being able to sleep in most days and having Thursdays practically all to myself. It was nice at first, being able to just take my mornings slow and do my schoolwork if I had any. However, every day that I spent relaxing made it all the more hard to not do the same the next day. It just felt like no matter how much I relaxed I nevertheless was still tired.
Then I started writing on Gemini again. I didn't draw the connection immediately but I suddenly started feeling way more well-rested on the days I posted. I almost made it a routine, wake up, make coffee, sit down and write for a couple hours, shower, go to work. This was pretty good, but I found myself prioritizing my writing over school, chores, and other responsibilities. I could have been doing more than just writing, but the fact I was getting up at 10:00 left me only a few hours before work. I kept procrastinating, putting off things that didn't have true due dates, like renewing my divers license.
My evenings were almost always open and with writing boosting my energy levels, I would find the motivation to go on a walk more nights than not. That got added to the routine. Then I reflected on how much I was spending on take-out or pre-made meals, as well as just wanting to cook, so I tried cooking at least once a week. At least once a week is now up to more like three or four times a week, making enough for a few meals. That got added to the routine. With my ability to better control what I was eating, it gave me more motivation to work out, which got added to the routine. I was feeling good.
Then last Thursday I finally sucked it up and got up early to go to the DMV and renew my drivers license. I got there before they opened, nevertheless it was still a zoo, but I got out of there in under an hour. Being up early and needing to get a few things from work, I headed over and got what I needed. However before I left, an idea popped into my head: I should start a garden. So I grabbed a few pots, a few of the pre-started plants, and a bag of soil. I got home and potted everything. Then I remembered the bird feeder we got last year, which I never truly hung up, so I did that and filled it. I was on a roll. I did the dishes, signed up for classes, did a load of laundry, and generally tidied up. It was my most productive day all year and it was enthralling.
Every day since, I've been getting up earlier and trying to be truly productive. Sure I don't do everything in my routine every single day, I need off days from working out and anyone can see I haven't posted in a week or so, but I'm getting things done. It makes it easier to make the right decision. It makes it easier to skip the trip to Taco Bell on the way back from work and spend just as long cooking as it would have taken in the drive-through line. It makes it easier to get a bunch of bananas over a pint of ice cream at the grocery store. It makes it easier to do one more set when working out. It makes it easier to crank the shower temperature down for the last minute or so.
It's made it all the more easy to do those things I've wanted to do but never had the energy to do them. I've expanded my garden and started a few seeds. Watering everything is how I start my day while my coffee is brewing. I've been going on my walks before I eat dinner so that I can feed the crows like I did last year. I've started practicing guitar, though I'm only a couple days in. I'm not rushing for my weed as soon as I get home.
My friend who is a little bit older than me was talking about his routine, saying that he tried to live the same good day every day. I think that captures it so perfectly.