On Routines & Ruts

I'm beginning to invite structure back into my life after a few weeks' depature and essentially winging it through those weeks. I am a lover of routine and stability - I drink the same coffee (with two sugars and a dash of milk) at the same spot in my kitchen every day singing along to the same playlist aptly named 'Morning' on Spotify every morning. My entire life isn't structured completely but the general day to day workings that allow the cogs to turn such as things with the children, sorting through my e-mail inbox, working and so on are usually designated time spots in my day so I know that everything is taken care of. Lately it's all been a little bit of a shambles. I've been working for two days straight pretty much and then not working at all for a further three days and I've got myself into a little bit of an organisational rut. I just can't seem to get back in to that routine that has been working so well for a significant period of time.

Instead of jumping back in to a firm routine I've decided to be a little more lax with it. I still drink that same coffee in that same spot with that same playlist but after breakfast I'll shut myself in the office for an hour and for every three e-mails I respond to I can read one blog post on my Bloglovin' feed. A little feat, a little treat - you know? From there I'll work solidly for about three hours before doing a little bit of organisation or cleaning around the house, making lunch and in the afternoon it'll be time with the girls' going for walks with the dogs or crafting while I steal some time to myself and I work in the evenings. This is by no means a solid plan for every day of my life here on but it's nice to have a departure while I regain some sense of control over the things that can't be compartmentalised into slots of the day.

So here's the plan: don't plan so much.

I'm going to go out without a shopping list and see what I discover. I'm going to click on blog links that I'd usually ignore in favour of my favourites and try and find new favourites. I'm going to get organised by finding out what I truly like to do, when inspiration hits me generally the most often, when I am at my most focused and when I start to get tired I'm going to listen to my body and rest rather than pushing on which is basically just inviting more down time from a flare. I'm not going to feel bad about not seeing my friends in weeks because I need that space either. Sometimes I feel especially terrible because I've been neglecting friends or not making as much effort but the truth is, they need space too. They have lives and commitments so I shouldn't feel bad for not being there as much as I think I should be unless one of them brings it up as a problem to me. I live in my own head quite a lot and it really does end up making mountains out of molehills in situations where over thinking just isn't necessary. It's a constant source of trouble for me personally and while I don't think it's going to be fixed any time soon it's never too soon to begin, right? I'm definitely making a conscious effort to not let things build up be they e-mails or cleaning and also to keep down the stress. The girls want to draw in the lounge? Let's move the table rather than argue about how the bedroom is their space. Hey, we all like a bit of multitasking in front of the TV every now and then, right?

So while I'm feeling motivated, why don't you tell me your tips on getting out of a bit of a rut? I could do with any help I can get.