Back to Basics

I recently reached a place of distinct frustration.  I am not good at balance, which is why I started this blog (and also why there are sometimes entire seasons of the year that I don't post).  I caught myself complaining recently to my husband that after putting 14 hours a day into work, I spent weekends cleaning, grocery shopping, running errands, and doing laundry.   Maybe whining is a better description than complaining.  I had gotten myself stuck in a rut.  I wasn't exercising.  I wasn't planning and cooking healthy meals.  I wasn't taking time for myself often enough.  Time that should have been spent on these things was all about work (and not just in the sense of my job, but in the sense of tasks that must be completed).  And worst of all, I was feeling sorry for myself for being "stuck" in that situation.

Realizing that I was the only one who could change my situation, I decided it was time to go back to basics.  Last week was a "light" week at school because we had co-curricular programming, but no classes.  I made a point of working out each day.  My husband or I cooked dinner each night.  I went to the Pullen pottery studio even though I didn't have class.  And, I made the chore chart. 

I mentioned the chore chart to a colleague yesterday who reminded me that "that's what we do for the kids."  Absolutely.  And apparently we now have to do it for me.  Each day contains a 15 minute chore for me, a 15 minute chore for my husband, and a load of laundry.  We implemented the plan through last week and it worked beautifully.  We arrived at the weekend with a mostly clean house (as clean as it can be when you have a cat who, based on the number of cat-hair tumble weeds under the bed, should be bald) and were able to relax much more than in most weekends. 

Try your own chore chart for whatever tasks you find yourself putting off, avoiding, or resenting.  Share the wealth with your family members.  And, check out Gretchen Rubin's Happiness Project.  Gretchen spent a year learning to be happier by testing many theories of happiness and finding what worked for her.  One thing I learned from following Gretchen's project was that you are who you are.  Take the time to be introspective and find out what makes you happy.  If that means that your drummer doesn't match other people's, that's okay. 

So, this week it's back to a normal work week.  We'll see how well I can do with continuing to exercise, cook, and follow the chore chart.  It's Monday at 8:15 a.m. and so far, I remembered to take the chicken out of the freezer for dinner tonight.  It's a start.

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