Evenings need to be shaken up a bit though. I have been very neglectful of my work to personal boundaries, staying logged in and doing yet another e-mail, or starting to draft another policy brief well after I would have been done for the day in my office working world. I have rationalized working so much as there is so little to do (not counting my messy house that perpetually needs attention), so might as well be productive. My garden was a fail-I just don't like gardening, though am envious of those of you who do. I feel stifled doing purging when I still have very few places to take things for donation without just making a problem for someone else. What I need to do is think of my evening time as staycation time-plan something fun to look forward to that forces me to log off say by 5:30- each night. I have a practically empty planner to insert loads of ideas. Remember this pretty planner I got in my winter Fab, Fit, Fun box and did not pass on to either of the girls? Most of what is in it from March 15th on has a line through it, and the rest is basically blank.
Essentially I have a blank slate to start from for the second half of 2020. I still plan to keep my-not in a hurry to go additional places stance since both DH and DD2 are out in the public every day already, and don't need any more risk. Once I do get back in the office, I feel there are so many safeguards being set-up I'm not worried. Here's what I came up with for a short list with some usual's and a new idea or two.
- Outdoor movie night for when Hamilton hits Disney Plus July 3rd. We could get muscles and movie the 50 inch tv from our bedroom outside, but I might just bring the kitchen one out, which is still 32. Do you remember when 32 inches was the default to the standard home television? DD2 warned us though she plans to sing the entire movie.
- Drive-Inn movie theatre; the one close to us running older family friendly movies. This week is Zootopia and the Avengers
- Friends and a fire and a cooler of cocktails , or...
- Just a porch or deck happy hour. I miss happy hours, one of my favorite ways to meet up with friends.
- Brave with my girls and try out DD1's new paddle board This could be paired with...
- Find new water recreation areas to visit within 30 minutes of us. Leaving the house by 6, would give us 2 1/2 hours of of water time.
- Outdoor game night. We have badmitton and ladder golf. I'm sure I could borrow corn hole (though I might put some bonus funds towards one for an early DH birthday present) and one of the yard Jenga games. Keeping it outside with just individual snacks and drinks feels more comfortable I think to some of our friends that like us have been slow to rejoining public gathering places.
- I'm envious of my collegue who even before she decided to officially retire at a young 62, would make sure on Tuesday's she never scheduled herslef past 4:00 because they were in a golf league with a 5:00 or 5:30 tee time. I'm not a golfer, but have enjoyed tennis lately. Perhaps I need to schedule a consistent tennis night as if I was in a league.My gilrs would be game, but having lives of their own, I could see what other tennis newbies and want to be's would be interested. My friend who shares my name is a tennis player, but I am sure her skills way outpace mine. Still, I can see her being patient with just some leisurely volleying.
My ideas are similar to yours. Cases are spiking near us and I’m switching back to a more lockdown mode, even though I’m still working. Every Saturday night we have a fire with the same few people that we typically hang out with-one of my besties, a neighbor and daughters boyfriend. We also have a table top, propane fire pit if we need to stay under the porch. Hubby kids and I will play doubles tennis-badly lol if we can coordinate our schedules. We bought a clearance golf club to hit balls at the 24 hour driving range. I made a list of projects around the house that I really want to do and the items I need to complete them. Just going to grab supplies to have on hand as time allows. I’m content to just grab a popsicle and sit on the porch swing. Sister in-law asked us if we wanted to go to the zoo and a local bakery. Sounded like fun, but I just can’t do it. I worry too much. JoAnn
ReplyDeleteAnd just this afternoon, a zoo employee tested positive. I feel better than we skipped it! JoAnn
DeleteI have beenhappy wiht my small circle, and outside things. I'm still thouogh makinglists, shopping fast, and out-with mask on.
DeleteCovid cases are increasing here and I am staying out of the fray. Son3 and DIL3 are headed this way mid-week so right now I am getting ready (I am so ready for time with people) for their visit. Unfortunately here, outdoor time in the evening is unpleasant. It is hot, muggy and filled with mosquitos. We have invested in mosquito coils and we all know to wear only loose fitting cotton clothes, so I guess we will try and have some outdoor time. We also have the option of night swimming which is always nice. I am just mainly thrilled to have other humans around to interact with.
ReplyDeleteWe have some icky weahter, but cahnces are we'll get a few nights that are pretty nice to be outside, so tha tis where I a focused.Will you go to your lake place wiht tyour son and daugter in law?
DeleteI feel lucky if I can get Tommy to open the front door to let in some light and outdoors. He refuses to sit in the yard! So, I have a time each week that I get him out of the house on an errand so we can go sit in the car in the park. It is not much, He does not like games, he says! When I had my swing, we could sit there. I could when he was not there. Even then, I could find peace at home watching birds and squirrels. I suppose I am boring....lol.
ReplyDeleteIf you enjoy it, that's good for you. There are a lot of people who love to watch animlas and birds-they are fascinating.
DeleteIf you don't love gardening or purging don't! Life is too short. I do recommend setting an alarm each day on your phone reminding you that you are off. No one appreciates you working the extra hours nor do you really get ahead in the long run, just wear yourself out! Working from home is not easy and it is tough to find balance, I know this from years of experience. Often I have to pry hubby from his office. I usually send the dog in to make him feel guilty :)
ReplyDeleteI agree-forcingmyself to do gardening for a zuchini or pepper-what would th epoint be? I agree onthe work front an dloggd out at 5:20 after starting at 7:20. It's not my fault some people don't log on until later, aos try and call me at 5:00.
Deletethat's good you are realizing you need to unplug from work. Thankfully my work/employer is good about making sure people do that.
ReplyDeleteWe all our pretty self directed so no one is really looking at how long-more what gets done and hte tasklists just gets longer. Still, I need to own that I readily don't say "enough" when I should.
DeleteWhen my kids were little I had a boss who was a workaholic. I have every respect for him and even now I haven't worked for him in nearly 20 years we still keep in touch - but he never knocked off. So I got into the habit of going in to work for a few hours on a Sunday morning (I needed Saturday to get my own stuff done) and he would be there working. So I'm trying to catch up and he's there getting ahead of me. He almost broke me and had me on my knees physically. Nobody wants to come in to work at 8 a.m. to an email from the boss at around 11 pm the previous night unless it really is urgent. When I left that job they got 2 people to replace me. So yep, if you can avoid it, have a set knocking off time both for yourself and for your colleagues! And you've given me some ideas for our next "board game" evening. A few outdoor games!
ReplyDeleteThings are a bit of a mess structurally with my boss having taken an interim exe position, which now is permanent, My colleague taking her position on an interim basis (I had no interest), our third colleague retiring on July 7th, three other vacancies in a small division of 27 with a bring freeze and budget cuts likely. I feel lucky to have a job, but that is not a good way to think. I will knock off, love that expression, by 5:30 unless I am absolutely needed.
DeleteHa, didn't know "knock off" wasn't used in the US, but "knock off" is absolutely what you need to do. Sadly the more you do the more they expect also. Still, after re-reading my comment I reckon "knocking off" is a better expression to use re your boss than being "on your knees"!
DeleteWhen I left one workplace I made sure that the team I worked on was completely up to date with the work. I met them 3 weeks later as someone was retiring, only to find that they were 2 weeks behind with the work, and were missing me, as it was evident who had been carrying the team. It took the diagnosis of the heart condition to make me slow down. I really should have looked at the example of my Dad - he was a workaholic and died at 55 of a massive heart attack. I doubt that anyone really appreciated all of the work he did at home every night, from the time I was a small child until he died when I was 3 days away from my 30th birthday.
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