March 15, 2014 Creatures of habit

I realized, this morning, that, just like so many other humans, I am a creature of habit.  This is quite disconcerting to me as I had long held the belief that I am a unique individual, immune from such mundane attributes as habitual behavior.  But as I started my day today, I realized just how habitual my behavior truly is.  See for yourself.

1. Wake up, snuggle the cats until Toby starts being a brat (playing the blinds, clawing the bed, etc.)
2. Either get up and start my day (depending on the hour and whether I'm still tired) or lock Toby and Snowball out so I can catch a few more winks.
3. Feed the cats their morning wet food.
4. Get coffee in my Eeyore mug and a carton of yogurt and take them into my office.
5. Put in contacts.
6. Make the bed.  (Yes, the perpetual slob can't start her day without this little chore!)
7. Weigh in and record any downward changes on MyFitnessPal (upward changes are NEVER logged!)
8. Check email, Facebook and blog activity.
9. Play 1 game of Bubbles IQ
10. Drink coffee, then eat yogurt.
11. Get dressed (on writing days, I think this is odd as I've heard that writers may just stay in their jammies all day.  Although there was a time when I could, I find it nearly impossible now!  If nothing else, I like to work with my blinds open and the sun coming in, and my office window faces the street.)
12. Either go to the gym and run errands, write, or work on clients' books.
13. Take breaks to do chores, prepare meals, etc.
14.  Noon or thereabouts, make and eat lunch.
15. Meditate for at least an hour.
16. Write or work some more.
17. Either get ready to go out dancing or read or watch tv or play a computer game.

I'm debating over whether this makes me boring or just focused on what I want to do and where I want to go.  If nothing else, it means I do regular blog posts.  I've also found myself planning certain days for certain activities.  (e.g. on Wednesday I will work on client A.'s books.  On Tuesday, I'll write all day.  On Friday I'll have a veg day.  On Monday, I'll pay bills.) 

I'm thinking that after three months of having no set schedule, I'm feeling the need to be a little more organized, even regimented.  Just as I'm waking up and starting my day much earlier than I'd envisioned, I'm finding that I need at least a little bit of structure in my life, even though, at this point in my life, it's completely self-imposed. 

On the bright side of what my daughter would probably call anal behavior, it does get me closer to my goal and ensures that I write at least one blog post a day! 

When I first started writing this post, I was horrified to find how habitual my days had become, but in retrospect, I think that a certain amount of structure will inevitably make me a better writer, especially when I enter into book deals with deadlines. 

Isn't evolution fun???

My gratitudes today are:
1. I am grateful for the guidance to structure my day when it's needed.
2. I am grateful for the inspiration which has returned in quantities far beyond my expectations.
3. I am grateful for supportive friends and family who, whether they realize it or not, help keep me focused.
4. I am grateful for Toby who clearly knows when I've slept enough, even if he gets obnoxious about it.
5. I am grateful for the ability to write out my thoughts until I reach a logical conclusion.

Love and light.