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You are currently browsing the archives for April, 2007.
P365 – 042907
We moved the bird feeder to the front yard to help reduce the temptation of the kittens to leap into the screen on the porch. We’ll see. It is open for business now but no one is going through the “fly through window” just yet.
P365 – 042807
It is Sales Tax Free Weekend!!! The company needed a new computer so we took advantage of basically a 10 percent off sale..plus a hefty rebate. It’s Windows Vista..so we will see how long that lasts.
Considering my Routines and Rituals
I have been thinking a lot about the routines I have (and don’t have) in my life and how they can impact things.
Over 13 years ago, I heard a pastor talk about how routines are helpful in a relationship…whether it is “watching the same TV show every week” or cooking a certain meal together or reading the Sunday paper in a certain order. We certainly have our routines here at T-F headquarters and we swear by them.
But, when does a routine become a ritual? I would guess when the routine is totally ingrained in your world and you notice it and participate in it with a positive and meaningful way. I would classify some of our routines most certainly as rituals.
Morning coffee ritual? Check.
Weekend coffee ritual? Check. (same routine, different barista)
Party nite with the kittens ritual? Check.
Saturday morning cleaning routine? Check. (not quite in a positive participation just yet!)
Other routines I “try” to have are designed to make my life easier, fun and/or to get things done….like:
- Putting my keys in their little cubby when I get home so I don’t wander around the next morning looking everywhere for them. 80% successful.
- Putting my gym bag up and packing it again for the next trip. 90% success rate
- Weekly backup of computer data. 100% successful since I don’t have to remember to do it..I love Backup from Apple for this. And, I am going to check out the new Mozy offering for Macintosh this weekend.
- Practicing the piano. 10% at this point (boy, does not having lessons make my motivation to play drop, even though I enjoy it)
The piano practice could become a ritual, I would think. The others? Not so much but that doesn’t reduce their importance in being a positive part of my life.
Routines I need to work on becoming rituals:
- Weekly review for my fledgling GTD system
- Relaxing, truly relaxing….I have such a big project going on right now – I can feel the stress almost all the time so I must work on this. I have ideas..but I am lazy.
- Meal planning to make shopping faster (and hopefully less prone to those impuse buys) and the food options healthier.
Routines I might need to drop or revise because they are not helping and probably won’t become ritual-like:
- Reading too many productivity sites!! I enjoy getting all the tips and they can be motivating but how much time am I spending going through all the RSS feeds. I need to trim the excess here.
- Dropping junk mail any and everywhere so I have to go all around to gather it, separate out useful from recyclable and process it all.
- Checking my office email every .23 seconds. I have to work on that because it fritters away my day if I let it.
Not to take away the power of the spontaneous and unplanned – when it is the fun kind – but I think having a little more planning on how I can put some things into routines and rituals can only be a plus.
Off to consider more routines to help.
Photo credit: From the flickr stream of Ed Bilodeau
P365 – 042707
We have a new “routine” now when I get home. Fidgert jumps on the table and then onto my shoulders to ride around for about a minute before he jumps down (usually scratching me in the process)
We will see how long this lasts.
Muppet Personality Test – another round of self-identification
|
You Are Fozzie Bear |
 “Wocka! Wocka!” You’re the life of the party, and you love making people crack up. If only your routine didn’t always bomb! You may find more groans than laughs, but always keep the jokes coming. |
P365 – 042607
The first iris of the spring bloomed today! It’s been a hit and miss year…beautiful early on with the cherry tree really doing its thing. Then, the dogwoods and tulips got zapped by a late freeze. Even the boxwoods and other shrubs look peaked this year. But, the first iris!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY BRO!!!
P365 – 042507
Fidgert celebrates Administrative Professionals Week by dressing in
his work clothes for party nite!
We are the crazy ladies with the cats.
P365 – 042407
Wha??? The traffic light has been installed. It is still flashing yellow so we are taking bets on how long it will take before it actually functions. While it will certainly slow us down coming home, it will be nice to know that we can finally turn left during peak times.
