Why is Routine so hard?
Maybe it isn't so hard for everyone, I know some that thrive on it...so why is it so hard for me? I can't even wear a watch without feeling trapped! I finally have a job that has me in a routine. I get up at 7:15 (7:30 realistically), eat a quick bowl of cereal (with flax seed on top if I'm really on the ball that morning), stare into space for a few minutes as I resent leaving my memory foam mattress. Brush teeth, wash face, contacts in (yay for being able to see), make-up on, do something with hair, scan closet for professional clothes (always a struggle not to throw on standard hoodie and holey jeans), ...and out the door for work at 8:00am. Thank God I work 3 minutes away, otherwise we would all be in trouble...and when I say we, I mean me.
I stayed home from work last Wednesday since I was starting to feel the relentless I-work-with-dirty-kids-cold. I love, love, looooooved staying home on the couch, sleeping, and spending time with my boyfriend-his name is TIVO...very faithful to always doing what I program him to. After a day off, not to be confused with a paid day off, I had a really hard time getting back into my "routine." Such a hard time, I took Friday off too...so much for being responsible. oops.
Today I had to run across the street to one of our other schools to turn in some paperwork. Just leaving our building for a few minutes (in the rain unfortunately) was like a high or something. Anything to get me out of my normal routine, doing something out of the ordinary daily schedge. What is about routine that just utterly kills some of us, me in this particular situation?
It's like the life of a 20-something becomes all about routine. A routine alarm setting (never mind the snooze button factor), a routine list of tasks, routine check ups and routine weekly obligations...The only thing I really enjoy is my routine paycheck! And the whole reason I like that routine is so that I can spend it doing things outside of my routine! Is this what life has to become? I guess if all it takes is a 30 feet walk to paperwork land or maybe a stroll to Starbucks on my lunch hour to spice up the routine, it can't really be that bad. I just can't help but wonder if it ever gets any better. Am I ever going to be someone who can appreciate routine? According to every personality test...probably not. I'm an ESFP (Myers Briggs) and a YELLOW (the color code) and that might just mean that I will never...not ever...like being confined to a routine.
I sometimes think (wishful thinking I suppose) about being a stay-at-home mom someday. Yes, that's right...I want babies. Will that be the only time in my life (at least pre-retirement) that I'll be able to make my own schedule/routine? And even then, aren't you on lock-down and a prisoner to the kids' schedule ie: naps, school, bed times? Does it pretty much just suck for a free-spirited gal until she doesn't have to work AND is done raising children? If so, bummer.
How do we let the inevitable routine check ups of life not get us down?
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