Breaking bad habits and changing tactics…
In early 2019 I moved to the second shift because that was the only way I was able to get permission to work 100% remote.
Then a month later the quarantine started and they moved everyone to work remote (I’m not salty about it or anything). But it worked for us, I was able to spend more time with my two girls and was able to work and not have the 1hr commute eat up my time. Now the girls are older, Anastasia is 4 and Emily is soon to be 3 and life just gets busier and busier. They’re no longer the little babies I could put in the play pen in order to get a few moments to myself, instead its a flurry of arts and craft, toys, mess, and fun.
Now my days run in this never ending cycle: wake up, wake the girls, cook, clean, eat, teach the preschool lesson of the day, work on my own school work, work until 10PM sign off and then I get an hour or two that I actually get to enjoy some time with Josh before we have to go to sleep and then wake up and repeat it all again.
It had gotten to the point where despite the utter exhaustion I’d feel at the end of the day I would purposely stay up late doing whatever, knowing that I would be even more exhausted in the morning, just to have some hours to myself. Sure I got a few hours to myself, the girls were asleep, Josh was asleep, but then come the next day I was just not the same. I would be cranky, tired, and overall unpleasant and then I’d have to go through all the things that needed to get done all over again. I realized that what I was doing was doing more harm than good and have tried to change this bad habit. I try to sleep earlier and instead of taking those hours at night I’ve been working on waking up before my husband leaves for work, while the girls are still asleep, and using that time instead.
I use this time to do things that are a benefit to me, reading my Bible and doing school work. I also go for a walk in the neighborhood and take some quiet me-time while getting some fresh air or even spending some time gardening. I am very new at, but it is very rewarding when successful.
But lets not forget, one of the best things about waking up before the girls are awake, is being able to take a seat in a quiet house and enjoy savoring a cup of coffee. I never understood why my mom would just “want some quiet” when I was younger or why I’d find a cup of forgotten coffee in the microwave, but I do now.
It doesn’t matter where you’re from – or how you feel… There’s always peace in a strong cup of coffee.
Gabriel Bá
Little Piece of Quiet 