Term 3 begins next week, notoriously known as the ‘productive term’ – no reports or interviews and the students seemingly flick a switch and work out how school operates. They mature overnight and tasks that were once difficult to accomplish are now done so with ease.
The aim is for the same thing to happen to me.
I read through some old journals recently and it’s the same old story – I don’t like who I am or how I operate and need to change something. It’s a tale as old as time and getting quite boring. The common theme is fulfilling potential and completing tasks without procrastinating and putting my energy into worthwhile causes…blah blah blah.
With that said, and post disastrous marathon, I can appropriately use the end of the holidays and the start of the new term to begin afresh in mind, body and soul. This is something that appeals to me for some reason and suits my brain, as opposed to haphazardly beginning something in the middle of nowhere (perhaps teaching is the perfect career for me to stay in, so that I get a fresh start every couple of months).
The question is: how do I remain content? Contentedness is what drives me. A settled, organised brain allows me to live my days happily, with the knowledge that I have used my time appropriately throughout the day. The hilarious irony though is that I’m a terrible procrastinator, and actively avoid things if I find them unpleasant (namely paperwork at school). So how do I get settled?
I need to develop consistency and order. The last thing I want to do is what Demetri Martin did and outline every second of every day. However, there is a part of me that thinks elements of what he was trying to achieve would suit me.
The unexamined life is not worth living
So with that said, my aim over the next 10 weeks is to try and live the way I’ve always wanted to. Be the boyfriend I want to be. Be the teacher I know I can be. Be the athlete I know I can be. Be the happiest person I can be.
So let’s begin. What needs to happen everyday that will make me content and settled?
- Wake up with the alarm. Whether it’s 5:45am on BCN days, or no later than 6:30am on other days. I need sleep.
- Lunch is prepared and nutritious, with enough to cover me if I need to exercise.
- Shirts are ironed and I look good at work. No more t-shirts.
- I limit the amount of coffees I have per day. Two in the morning is fine, but only one more after that. Drink water instead.
- Work is prepared the day before at the very least. Most of my thought process is spent worrying about work I should have already done – “It’ll be harder later if you don’t do it now”.
- Use Google Calendar to record upcoming events and check it daily to remember the things that I’m meant to remember.
- No phone in the toilet.
- No Facebook until I’m home (apart from Messenger).
- BCN sessions are prepared in advance. Use some time on Sunday to quickly get them done.
- No booze until Friday.
- Complete all of my own exercise, both running and Pilates.
- Phone charged outside the bedroom and watch is my alarm across the room.
- Read a book in bed and aim for 10pm bed time.
That’s it. Nothing crazy or unheard of – just simple day-to-day things that will keep me on track and my head clear.
There’s obviously other things that need to happen within the day itself, but the above are the important bits that will lessen procrastination and keep me rested.
Dom
Run Dom Run 