The stay at home order is being lifted in some places. Many people are excited while others are scared. There’s no way to predict what will happen, but we’ll deal with whatever occurs as we must. That’s what we do.
This is only my third week at home. I know many people have been home since some time in March. I haven’t received my instructions for returning to work, but I expect them soon. This time at home has been wonderful in some ways, eye-opening in others.
My husband works nights and has continued to work throughout this entire ordeal. I have unintentionally adjusted my sleep and meal schedule to his. I’ve found myself staying awake until 3:00 a.m and sleeping until 9:00 a.m. I’ve been eating once late morning and once early evening.
This unconscious syncing with my husband, while maximizing my time with him, is going to really hurt when I go back to work. In real life, AKA when things are normal, my alarm goes off at 5:00 a.m. so I can be at work by 7:00 a.m. I leave work at 5:30 p.m. and usually have dinner around 6:30 p.m. My bed calls to me between 9:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m.
With my alarm clock turned off and the clocks removed from the walls due our painting project, I didn’t realize how I’d changed my routine at first. I lost track of time. It didn’t seem matter when I had no place to go. I lost track of the day of the week, as well. I’ve nearly forgotten to post on Ozarks Maven twice during my time at home. This isn’t healthy.
It’s time to reclaim my own schedule. If I don’t take control now, my coworkers will be dealing with a zombie for the first few days back at the office. As far as I know, I’m the only one in my department who hasn’t been working, so everyone else will still be in the swing of things when I get back.
You see, I handle paperwork while everyone else in my department is skilled labor. Our CEO has had our guys working on building maintenance and such since we stopped going into clients’ homes. Since I’m not certified in OSHA or Lead-safe Work Practices, they really couldn’t use my help. I was fine with going home where I could get some things done, but I’ve missed my quirky co-workers.
I’ve accomplished a great deal while at home. I’ve made great strides in preparing my short story collection for publication. My closet is organized, and I’ve never been so caught up on housework. My living room is nearly updated, and plans are coming together for the kitchen. My floors have never received so much attention. My garden looks good, and I’m washing curtains tomorrow.
I think my favorite thing about staying home these last few weeks has been having uninterrupted time to read while Jim is at work. I discovered an author whose work I really enjoy. Her name is Shannon Mayer, and I’ve read two of her books in the past week. I read Midlife Bounty Hunter and Midlife Fairy Hunter, the first two books in The Forty Proof series. These books are in the Women’s Fiction genre and feature a main character who is in her forties.
Before you ask, I do know a lot of great authors, but I have never met Shannon. We don’t belong to any of the same groups, either. In fact, she lives in Canada, which is quite a distance from the Missouri Ozarks where I live. Perhaps I’ll have the opportunity to meet her someday. In the meantime, I’m anxiously awaiting her third book in The Forty Proof series.
What are you reading? How are you spending your time at home?
Stay safe and healthy, my friends!
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