Well, the time has finally arrived...my leave of absence is officially over. Now, for the life of me, I can't remember why I ever felt guilty about being lazy and not wanting to do anything but eat Cheez-Its, blog, or watch soap operas and talk shows.
I think I'm ready to go back (I had to re-type that last sentence about three times). I guess it doesn't really matter, because I'm going back tomorrow, like it or not.
In an effort to prepare myself for the inevitable, I decided to create morning and night time routines to help manage the chaos that will ensue once I rejoin the rest of civilization; I went to www.Flylady.net for some inspiration. Using her suggestions as a starting point, here is what I came up with:
MORNING ROUTINE
1. Rise and Shine
a. Make bed around Matt.
b. Get dressed, fix hair and face in the bathroom.
c. Clean the bathroom while getting ready.
d. Swish the toilet and leave the room never to return till later.
e. Feed and water the critters.
f. Scoop the litter box.
2. Kitchen
a. Make coffee and breakfast.
b. Feed self.
c. Empty the dishwasher if necessary.
3. Think About Your Day
a. Check calendar.
b. Make to-do list for day.
c. Thaw something for dinner.
d. Hit the hotspots. **There may not be any**
4. Now Think About Yourself
a. Take vitamins and medications.
b.Morning Meditation: God, Imagination, Focus, Thanksgiving (GIFT).
c. Make sure have coffee, lunch, Ipod, change of shoes, etc.
BEFORE BED ROUTINE
1. Clean up the house
a. Living room: Pick up and put away things, magazines, dishes, clothes, shoes.
b. Kitchen: Clean it up, shine sink, lay out clean dishcloths, and run the dishwasher.
c. Dining room/entrance: Clear the hot spots.
d. Throw load of laundry in washing machine if necessary.
e. Scoop the litter box.
f. Review checklist.
2. Think about tomorrow.
a. Check calendar and/or planner for appointments.
b. Start "To Do" list for tomorrow.
c. Think about: What can I do tonight that will make tomorrow morning easier? (make lunches?)
d. Gather up items that you do not want to forget and place them in a spot by the door. Make sure you can see them before you walk out.
e. Start Breakfast: Set table and plan what you are cooking (just make a mental note).
f. If you plan to use the crock pot, then get some of those things ready so all you have to do is throw it together.
g. Lay out your clothes for tomorrow.
h. Put clothes in dryer if necessary.
3. Focus on yourself before going to bed.
Cool down time:
Get yourself ready for bed.
a. Shower, brush teeth, clean face, dry hair.
b. Take vitamins and other meds.
c. Put on jammies, or sexy night gown, or... nothing.
d. Fold clothes in dryer if necessary.
Reflect on today's accomplishments:
a.Work on blog/gratitude journal
b. Read for fun.
c.Listen to music. It doesn't matter what kind - just relax, and it has to be something you enjoy, or you won't do it.
d.Prayer and/or Meditation.
e. Snuggle in for the night and lights out. Fall asleep with a smile on your face and in your heart!
For some reason, having everything written out brings me great inner peace. I guess it creates the illusion that I'm in control, even though I know that's really never the case.
I also created a weekly/monthly checklist in Excel of chores to do and errands to run. If you would like a copy, just leave your e-mail address in a comment and I'll pass the file along to you.
Tomorrow begins a new month and a new chapter in my life. I am well on the road to a full recovery now. I still suffer from occasional shoulder pain and stiffness, but my back feels a million times better. To the rest of the world (my husband included), I am capable of what any healthy, active, 28 year old woman should be capable of. No more lounging around, idly passing the time. I have a job to do, a house to clean, a husband to feed...a life to live, no excuses.
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