Just Ticking Off Boxes

Some days I have a bunch of energy and do many, many things.

Other days, I don't.

On both kinds of days, it helps me when I tick off some boxes before I let the day just be "a day" for the rest of it.

The thing about energy is that, within certain limits, energy mostly comes from doing things. So, when I feel like a slump and then too easily give in to not doing all that much, my energy will not improve.

On the other hand, resting is really important and pushing through when I really should just go and get some rest also exacerbates the problem.

So, I have a list of tiny, non-negotiable things that I do on a low energy day before I "roll over".

• 15 minutes of yoga

• one chore (usually dealing with dishes or picking up)

• all the writing I do daily (here, and for the band)

Half of the time, as I do the things on the list, my energy comes back and the day recovers quite dramatically in its final hours. Especially the fifteen minutes of yoga have that effect on me.

The other half of the time I still feel low energy after I have ticked off the things on my list.

That's ok, though, because I've done what I needed to do and can enjoy my rest without the nagging sensation of "the dishes are having a dirty parade all over the kitchen".

Some days are wonderful.

And some days, I just tick off the boxes and call it done.

Either way, a day is just a day. They come in different moods, feelings, and perceptions.

For my outcomes, it doesn't actually matter too much whether I feel like I am having a great day or whether I am struggling like I am today.

Except for REALLY awesome or REALLY awful days, what I get done doesn't vary all that much. I just feel differently while I get things done.

Sometimes, like today, having a meh day leads to my being done with stuff earlier and my doing a better job at the things I want to do. That's because I really, really want to just go back to bed so I am just doing everything now instead of later.

Because once I am back in bed, I do not want to get back up.

"I don't want to get back up" makes for great motivation.