Daily Routine? What's That?

I was raised by parents that adhered to a daily routine just like their parents did. You would think that 18 years of living that way would influence me somehow. They say it only takes 2 months to form a habit. Eighteen years wasn't enough for me.


And somebody in this family (I'm talking ancestors) had a big-time procrastination gene that I obviously inherited. I don't have a problem putting off till tomorrow what I could do today. Especially when it comes to housework.


But the problem with routine is that you can't have any fun until the work is done. That seems to be neverending though. For some reason, since I retired I feel like I should have more fun time.


When I first retired, I tried the routine thing. I got up early every day and worked all morning so I could take the rest of the day off. That only lasted a couple of months. I'm a night person and I lost so much sleep I ended up napping the rest of the day. Morning people don't understand this and think you are just lazy because you don't leap out of bed at the crack of dawn ready to start the morning routine.


I see the value in routine. You can get so much done. But who wants to do the same thing at the same time all the time? That's like eating the same thing every day. Variety is the spice of life.



So, that leads to excuses for not doing the routine things. My current favorite is, "I don't want to get sweaty." I spent the last 12 years of my working life in a factory job sweating all night. I swore that when I retired I would never sweat again. OK, living in Nebraska that is not possible unless you never leave the house between March and October but it sounded good. Of course that really limits your life. Even with AC in the car you still have to get out in those 90 degree days.



I love to knit which leads to, "I'm knitting for charity (or a birthday or Christmas, etc.) so I should make that my priority and work on it whenever I can. I don't have time for a routine. I have to get this done. Which is fine till you realize that it isn't foggy in the living room, that is a layer of dust on the TV screen that you are trying to see through. I realized this when the sunlight hit the screen. That is why you watch TV in low light. Thank goodness I don't have anyone aroung writing, "DUST ME" on everything.


Routine would also help with the memory. Monday is wash day, Tuesday is ironing day, etc. At least then I would remember what day it is and get places on the right day. You aren't left sitting in front of a dark library swearing that it is always open on Friday, when it is Thursday.

So I have realized that having a daily routine is a great thing. But you have to be predisposed to it or it doesn't mean anything except a guilt trip when you don't have one and company is expected any time. Then you really work up a sweat trying to do everything you should have done already!