Sunday, February 24, 2008

Small strokes of genius


not really a leftie, originally uploaded by Rosemary Grace.

1 - Figure out a schedule that gets me to work with minimal traffic and leaves actual time for the gym between work and evening classes on Tues and Thurs.

2 - Find an independent cafe (not s*bucks) near home with wireless internet and a decent breakfast menu. Declare new weekend ritual of coffee house study time.

3 - Tidy desk. Remove mystery objects that have been cluttering it, stuff them into a cardboard box for later sorting. Focus on reclaiming work space.

On Thursday I made it to work earlier, as planned, then got from work to the gym, and got changed with a few minutes to spare before pilates. The class made my achy back feel much better, though my lowest abdominal muscles are still wondering what hit them. I was so pleased with myself, getting to class on time after a workout, and discovering the added benefit that I was more energized than usual and felt I was paying better attention. I hope this effect also works on my Tuesday Biostats class, It is very hard to stay focused on biostatistics from 7pm till 9.30.

Yesterday we tried out a cafe in the next neighborhood over, Matt and I claimed a squishy leather couch facing the window and worked on our respective studies for several hours. It was a nice treat having a slice of quiche for breakfast, and somehow much easier to focus on work in the cafe than at home, with the cats being cute and the chores looming. The only potential fly in the ointment is that the cafe is surrounded by antique shops, boutiques, a bead shop and a knitting shop. I bought hand dyed sock yarn after four hours of biostatistics problems. This cannot become part of the weekly routine.

As this photo shows, I also cleared off the desk, so it can be used for desk-like purposes. I'm not actually a leftie, photobooth does a mirror-image thing with it's photos, that's really my right hand brandishing the trusty bic ballpoint.

All of these little changes make it easier to integrate my studies with work, and still, hopefully, keep my life running. I have yet to discover a trick to getting the laundry folded and put away the same day that it's washed and dried. Unfortunately I think the "trick" to that is rather labour intensive and involves folding my own knickers. Horror.

6 comments:

K said...

But if you fold your knickers then you can get one pair out of the drawer without dislodging all the others!

Laundry is the one thing I'm not too bad about putting away. At least once it's done, it's done, and it's a nice clean job. Picking up all the random detritus all over the house (*ahem* books) is another matter entirely...

I must say I'd find it very difficult not to spend money in the neighbourhood of that café.

Loth said...

Alternatively, you could adopt my method of "piling the clean laundry in the corner and pulling out what you need when you need it until it's all used up". Not tidy, certainly, but labour efficient!

Rosemary Riveter said...

Loth, that's exactly what I do! I dress out of the basket I use to carry the laundry to and from the laundry room at the end of the building.

Stace said...

My clean clothes have made their way as far as the floor in front of the wardrobe... the next step is to get them onto hangers, and then maybe even hang them up. I've gotten so bleeding lazy since I've been living alone! It sucks.

Hubby has a weekend study ritual similar to yours... except he goes to Starbucks. I hate Starbucks, I don't see what all the fuss is about. I've never enjoyed a drink from there. Never tastes as good as the average greasy spoon.

Pam said...

Why would you fold knickers? Put them away, yes. Folded, no.

Anonymous said...

ok, I fold knickers too. it just makes sense!
and for photobooth, go to edit and at the bottom of the drop down menu you can select autoflip new photos (I think that's the phrase) - they all turn out right way round!