Here's my true confession for the day. I tend to putz in the mornings. One of the greatest things about working at home is that I don't have to rise to the alarm clock, and I don't have to rush around trying to catch the 8:06 train the way I did for 11 years. So I tend to go slowly and fritter away a lot of time.
The first thing I do when I get up is go to my computer to check my email and the weather report . . . and I frequently get distracted and wander around the 'Net for about 15 minutes.
Then I have to take care of Smokey, which requires bundling up in my winter outerwear, taking him for his morning walk, feeding him, and giving him his daily meds. Somehow, this always takes me half an hour or more, and I can't figure out why.
Then I eat breakfast . . . which usually involves the time-intensive task of making cappuccino . . . and I often either do a puzzle or read a book while I eat. Finally, I have my morning prayer time and then I shower and dress. (Unless it's one of those days where I stay in my pajamas until I have to take Smokey for his lunchtime walk. I don't mind going outside in pajamas and robe first thing in the morning, but it's embarrassing to do so at noon.)
When I worked in an office and had to commute, my morning routine took only 80 minutes. Of course, we didn't have Smokey then, and I often had my prayer time on the train instead of at home. Still, I did move a lot more efficiently when I knew I had to get out of the house at 7:50 or miss my train than I do when there is no consequence for dallying.
Consequently, I frequently don't start work until 10:00. When I'm working only one job, this isn't a problem, but when I'm working two jobs as I am now, it's much too hard to get all my hours in when I start so late. I end up having to work in the evenings.
So my Lenten discipline this year is to try to give up putzing for Lent. I want to shorten my morning routine enough to accomplish two things: to go back to writing morning pages (three long-hand pages everyday) and still be able to start work by nine. In other words, I want to increase the time that my prayer time takes and still shorten the total time of the routine.
This is going to be difficult, but I really think it's the best discipline I can add to my life right now.
So how do your mornings go? And are you going to do a Lenten discipline?
12 comments:
I too am amazed at how long it can take when you have the time as opposed to when you don't. I experience this every school day versus summer day - every year. On a work day I have done all my chores, animal care etc and am out the door at 7:30. Summer - not so much. :)
My mornings are my most productive times. I am a textbook morning person. For me, it is the time after work and before dinner that gets frittered away. I have been thinking a lot about my Lenten practice and plan to write about it later today.
How funny! You and I have the same problem.
I like your idea for a Lenten discipline. Must think on that one...
Pax,
Doxy
since i work at noon and leave the house a bit after 11 my mornings tend to be super putzy!!! but i'm not a morning person and this does suit me quite well :)
I just posted on my plans for Lent. As for my mornings, the word "variable" comes to mind!
Your morning schedule sound like a little piece of heaven, either way. :)
XO
My hubby doesn't have to be to work until noon, so our mornings are quite leisurely most of the time. I am a night owl, and wow, do I love the slow mornings.
I haven't even thought of a Lenten discipline yet. Mine will probably involve food and diet.
Giving up putzing is a worthy goal! ;)
An excellent suggestion, Ruth! I do the same, and often wonder where the morning went. The whole day, sometimes!
For several years now, instead of giving something up for Lent, I try to make myself do something useful each day, whether it's making a piece of jewellery, turning out a drawer, or making the effort to go somewhere different. I think it's far better than giving up biscuits (cookies) which is what I used to do.
Good luck with your endeavor! I love 'putzing'. I, unfortunately, do work outside the house so I don't have much time for it.
I putz around in the morning, too, but unlike you, I usually get up late -- like when I've woken on my own and that only after I've lay in bed and ruminated about EVERYTHING for a while. It's my favorite time.
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