The Routines That Keep Us Sane

I just discovered one very special aspect of my new basement home office. It is strategically located right next to the washer/dryer which means I can get the laundry going AND do work at the same time. Feels more and more like corporate America every day! Though given a choice I'd rather have the somewhat soothing whitenoise of the washer/dryer then the inquisitive noisy cubemate neighbor. Those I don't miss at all.

Getting the laundry in today made me think about the routines that someone who works from home gets themselves in to. Or perhaps I should more accurately say, someone who is as Type A as myself gets themselves into. I'm sure there are a ton of people who would be perfectly happy to not have a routine. I envy those people but try as I might, I'm just not one of them.

Now that I'm getting back into my workspace twice a week my schedule is becoming a little more defined. Tuesdays and Thursdays are already spoken for. But the rest of the week can be a little open-ended if I don't throw some routine into it. For some reason, Fridays have become "cleaning" day where I'll take some time to get the laundry done (or, more typically, get it 2/3 of the way done and then leave the last load in the dryer to completely wrinkle before remembering it) and try to clean up around the house. Something about ending the week with a relatively clean house just makes me feel better. Plus since I know the weekend will consist of some lounging on the couch I'd like to get it cleared of dog hair before I lay down. (Yes, my dogs are allowed on the couch. In fact, they own the couch. If you came over to visit and they wanted to get on the couch we'd likely make you move. Unless you brought good wine, then you can keep your spot.)

Then Wednesday usually is "errands" day where I do fun things like pick up the dry cleaning and run any other number of random household errands. And Monday? Well half of Monday is usually spent figuring out that a new week has begun and trying to remember what I need to accomplish - both work and household wise - that week. One of my favorite routines, which I hope to resume as soon as the weather gets nice enough - is to take the dogs to the dogpark for lunch on Fridays and let them blow off some crazy puppy steam. But the park is just a little too wet and muddy right now so it wouldn't coincide well with "cleaning" Fridays.