A very un-normal anniversary breakfast – definitely special!
Have you ever said to yourself, “I’ll get to that when things get back to normal. They’re just so crazy right now!” Do you wonder when you’re going to have a “normal” day where you can accomplish all those tasks and routines that never seem to get done because of some unusual or unexpected event that pops up? Do you get frustrated because your vision for daily life isn’t the way you actually live?
Recently, in a coaching mastery class, I was encouraged to “claim business hours.” This makes a ton of sense, as those of us who are entrepreneurs can find ourselves working all hours of the day and night, leading to exhaustion and burnout if we’re not careful. My master coach confessed to texting in the tub back in the days before she claimed her own business hours.
Well, all I can say is I’m working on it. This is harder than I thought! And the reason I’m finding is that I never seem to have a “normal” day where I can stick to a set routine. Our car breaks down and we need to buy another one. And then I need to go back to the dealership to handle paperwork, pick up the license plate, etc. Or it’s Jazz Festival and we have house guests. Or it’s Mardi Gras and we have house guests, not to mention parades! Or a friend experiences a sudden loss. Or someone gets sick. Or I need to do taxes. Or I’m going out of town. Or the moon is full and I take our visitors out to the swamp for an impromptu moonlit wordless walk.
So I’ve given up on normal. I’m not sure that “normal” days exist! And instead of worrying about it, I’m just embracing each day as special. I can still set general goals, make sure I’m not working all the time and have a basic idea of what I’d like to accomplish. Then when I inevitably move things around and do everything in a completely different order than I’d envisioned, with new activities tossed in and other tasks abandoned, I can remember that all is well. And it doesn’t make sense to wait for “normal” to prioritize what’s most important to me. Normal’s never going to come. Instead, it’s another unique, special day, in a very happily un-normal life.
What about you? Does your “real life” match your vision of “normal life”? Do you get frustrated with surprises and interruptions or adapt to them? Do you prefer strict routines or just a basic framework? What makes your days special? How do you embrace the unexpected? Please feel free to share your stories, thoughts and tips in the comments – I’d love to hear from you!
The wonderful thing about working for yourself is that you can work when it is optimum for you to do so. You don’t have to slog through a low-energy cycle just because you’re obligated to perform some task. If you know that 2pm is not a good time for you to do a lot of heavy-duty brain work, you can take your evening break right then.
Thought-provoking article; thank you!
Great points, Elizabeth! I do a lot of ten minute napping right around 2 p.m. – and it is nice to have the freedom to do that! Thanks so much for stopping by and reading…
This really resonated, Carla. Thank you!
So glad it resonated, Wendy. It’s amazing to me how not waiting for normal has shifted my attitude, my energy – everything! Now I can enjoy surprises, interruptions, and unexpected events that come up, and be really present for them. Thanks for stopping by!
I so resonate with your statement “I’m not sure that “normal” days exist! And instead of worrying about it, I’m just embracing each day as special.”
More and more everyday I too am embracing each day as special and responding to life in the moment, rather than adhering to my checklists. I am not as “productive” as I used to be, but I am so much more present in my own life and somehow, the important stuff seems to get done. Thanks for sharing this!
Yes! What are we all rushing towards when we focus only on productivity, I wonder? Have you ever zipped through dinner and realized you didn’t taste it? (I am sometimes guilty of this, even with delicious dinners I’ve prepared from beautiful ingredients. I’m also guilty of rushing through the dinner preparation process – like it’s a race or something.) I am going to start a SLOW DOWN and SAVOR movement! I guess I need to start with me! 🙂
Those look so tasty! I’ll take the berry tart! 🙂
Oh they were! Very very delicious! 🙂
Ha! Have you been reading my mind? Because I’ve recently been bemoaning the lack of “normal” days, and wondering when life would get back to “normal.” Which is patently ridiculous. What occurred to me today is the idea of having two categories of work hours — “hard” work hours and “soft” work hours. The hard hours would be for accomplishing things in my business, come hell or high water. These would include the times when I schedule clients. Soft work hours would be variable. I could take a look at where I am (both in my energy and in my to-do list) and decide spur of the moment how I will approach them. So that is what I am going to do.
Good luck giving up on normal!
Sounds like a great plan, Joanna! We need to catch up soon! 🙂
Yes, we very much do! 🙂
Soon! 🙂
Normal?? What’s that?? lol! I’ve given up on normal. There is no such animal. As you said, each day is special (and brings with it all kinds of special circumstances to circumvent any sense of normal…lol!).
Yes! You are a woman after my own heart, Robin!