Oh, Hey, A Good Day

Last week was really awesome. This week is starting out pretty okay. Today was productive, which I haven't been able to say for a long time.

I've been planning my weeks weekly for about 3 years now, checking my life-goal and my year goals lists weekly. This past month, I've survived. I haven't made any progress to completing items on either of those lists, but I survived. Sometimes, that's the best you can do.

Last week, however, I found a glimmer. This week, I started moving forward again. It's been nice. Doubly so, as I come off a chest cold of this past weekend.

Today I exercised. I walked briefly in the woods near the Japanese Gardens. I had a not one but TWO calls with people I love. I had a work meeting. I managed to complete a demo with an hour to spare! That delighted me! I went into a paper store and didn't buy a notebook (shock!). I ate without overeating.

AND I am now only 29 book reviews behind in my "I have actually finished reading this book even though it is on my in-progress list" books list.

One of the things I've been trying to do is find / develop / curate a morning routine that works for me, that is flexible enough to survive travelling and life events, and that is strict enough that I am productive. I've talked with a number of people about their morning routines and now don't believe that most people have a morning routine, much less one they have consciously curated.

Today worked for me because not only did I write down what I wanted to accomplish today, but I also wrote out a schedule for when I was going to do what I was doing. The schedule part, again, let me relax away from the "what do I do next, oh, let me pick up my phone and see what other people are talking about on this network..." habit I've developed. That isn't a routine I want. Instead, I closed mail and slack and the chat channels and was able to finish everything in today's schedule.

That's a good day.