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1/n My wife was chatting with our pediatrician's receptionist yesterday and was told she was the first positive caller in months. With that in mind, I wanted to share some techniques I've been using to get myself through our new normal.
2/ The unscheduled days are the most challenging . Last Sunday, I made it until 9:30a before I took my son camping. Days with a written schedule are clearly better. It's always a hassle to write-it-out. Someone needs to own the scheduling process.
3/ My kids have noticed that I rarely leave the property. I'm either at home, or out in the wilderness. Regardless of where you live, there's stuff to explore within a couple hour drive. When I leave my bubble, all I buy is fuel and I appreciate the lack of internet.
4/ If you were into races/events/vacations/things to look forward to... then COVID took a lot of that away. To fill the void, I play games with myself. An example, on my aerobic maintenance days, I try to do 1,000KJ of work. Split the workouts, do one before anyone is awake.
5/ COVID has ended my desire to go out, so I've pulled my schedule way forward. I go to sleep when the kids do and wake up at 3:45am. Pretty extreme, yes, but I fall asleep easily and new world has opened... train early, drive to trailheads, get stuff done.
6/ Mental Health: another aspect of unscheduled days. They are more likely to produce ideas like "what the heck am I doing with my life." These are unproductive thoughts. Anything, and I mean anything, that is productive is superior to this thought loop => cleaning, laundry, etc.
7/ As a young man, I would fill my days with extreme physical challenges. That's not feasible with a house of kids and other responsibilities, so =>housework, pre-dawn drives to the wilderness, teaching, reading... anything is better than a blank page at 10am on Sunday
8/ There is mental resistance to taking positive steps because, aside from time in nature, none of it is "fun." So I pay attention to the contrast between "a full schedule that I control" and an empty schedule. I'm lucky that "fun" isn't a big motivator => aim for meaning.
9/ Ask more from yourself and have faith that you will adapt to the difficulties in your life.
