Category Archives: Time for you

21 Days Without my Husband — Welcoming him home

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Day 21 — It’s time to welcome him home.

Tonight I’ll make the airport trek to pick up my husband after his annual vacation to visit family and friends in Trinidad, his home country.  I’m excited.

After three weeks of cooking for one or, mostly, avoiding any cooking, I have re-stocked the refrigerator.  I’ve also tidied the house, changed the sheets, cleaned up the litter boxes and the cat feeding station.

With a bit of time left over I decided to consult the internet about ways to welcome a husband back from a trip.  Some of the ideas are most interesting but will not be tried in this postworksavvy life.

  • Several sites offered advice like ‘welcome home’ banners and signs.  This idea is not in character for me.  I know that my husband would wonder what was wrong if he saw banners or signs outside of the house — my neighbours would also get inquisitive and wonder what is happening with our marriage.
  • Another site suggested making a romantic screen saver for his computer and writing a poem or letter describing how much he was missed.  My technical skills don’t stretch to creating screen savers and any poetry would be plagiarized.
  • Frequent advice included romantic dinners with favourite foods, wine and candles. I know that some home-cooking will be welcome but likely candles and wine will wait until tomorrow as he is on a late flight.  Knowing my husband, his favourite single malt with crackers and good cheese might find more favour than a meal.
  • One website suggested washing and cleaning his car. As I used his car while he was away, I have already done the car wash routine. I know that he will appreciate a clean car.
  • Almost every site has advice that anticipates sex as part of the reunion.  There is advice to wear a sexy lingerie (or less) with only a coat as cover when doing the airport run; there is practical advice like clearing clutter from the bedroom; and there are many romantic suggestions including one from a woman who smeared sushi all over herself and then stretched out on the kitchen table (no kidding!)  If I were to use most of these techniques, I’m sure that he would wonder what guilty reasons caused my actions.  I also know that raw fish smells bad.
  • There was advice to put on make-up and fix your hair. Huh?  I don’t need that advice. If I appeared anywhere without make-up he would wonder if I had the flu and my short hair cut means little fixing.
  • Another suggestion was to “arrange his pillow, take off his shoes, and speak in a low and pleasant voice”.  Oh my goodness! This advice may be helpful in some cultures and in some relationships but, thank you very much,  the feminist in me will leave him to take off his own shoes and arrange his own pillow.  My voice won’t be low because I’ll be excited but I do hope that I can be pleasant!

I’ve been amused with these suggestions.  Unfortunately most of them are inconsistent with our lifestyle — or inappropriate for our relationship.

I do know that my husband will look forward to returning to the comfort of home and what it means — family, love, trust, appreciation, respect.   

Living apart for three weeks has provided a change of pace for both of us.  I know that I will be happy to get back into ‘couple’ routines. I have missed my husband and I’ll tell him so.  Once again, as happens every year when he takes his solo vacation, I have learned not to take him for granted — even if he annoys me from time to time!

 

 

21 Days Without my Husband — Messing Around and Being Alone

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Day 19 — It’s been a week of informal ‘messing around’ and being alone — having fun with others and relaxing while alone.

During the past few days I have amused myself with activities and diversions of my choice.

On Monday I realized that this was the last full week that I would be home alone so I took full advantage of each day.

It was a luxury to spend one full day at home clearing up clutter in my office/den.  I sorted through year-end bank and investment statements, prepared documents for income tax filing, shelved books, sorted magazines and filed heaps of documents that had taken up residence on my writing-table.  Without interruptions, I made progress on a job that I usually postpone as long as possible.

I used another day for a solo shopping trip.  I bought new make-up and treated myself to two pairs of shoes that I don’t really need — but both pairs make my feet look and feel good.  My cats were annoyed as they had to stay home alone for the day — too bad.

Time at the gym took up three mornings. After an exercise class and some time in the pool, it was time for coffee and a healthy lunch in the gym restaurant.   Taking care of my body also meant lots of laughter and time to exchange of news with gym buddies.

I took care of my mind by playing bridge on two afternoons.  Bridge gives good thrills when contracts are successfully bid and made.  It requires strategy and thinking. More important, though, is the value from quality time spent with good friends.

Other brain stimulation came from reading.

I finished two books and attended a book club meeting.  The book club discussion was disappointing but the lunch conversation after the meeting made the outing worthwhile.

Attending a Lenten study group that focused on compassion provided spiritual ‘stretching’.  I also used part of my weekly yoga class for meditation — a quiet time that helps me keep a positive perspective on life.

With my husband away, I had a solo lunch with my son at an excellent Indian restaurant. Besides enjoying wonderful food we had a relaxed conversation. One-on-one time with our son is a luxury that happens less frequently now that he is married.

I also attended two committee meetings for organizations where I volunteer, visited the periodontist, had a haircut, and did some research for a presentation scheduled next month. Obviously, there was little time left for writing blog posts.

As I look at the list of the diversions, amusements and activities of the past week,  it’s a relief that my husband has been away as I would have had little time to spend with him.

Since I was alone I had no guilt about not cooking, nor doing any household chores.  I simply did ordinary things but took pleasure in messing around at leisure.

I realized that there is truth to the adage ‘being alone doesn’t mean being lonely.’  For me, being home alone means appreciating the time I spend with myself and choosing when I will spend time with others.

I don’t isolate myself as I get value out of relationships with interesting people. But having the gift of quiet is a joy.

In three days my husband returns and I look forward to resuming our routines as a couple. The truth is that I do miss him and would not want to spend an infinite amount of time without him.

This time has taught me — again — how to enjoy my own company.

Going forward, I resolve to incorporate more time alone into my postworksavvy lifestyle so that I can putter around in freedom, reap the benefits of solitude, and then take greater pleasure in all the benefits of a ‘couple’ relationship.

 

21 Days Without my Husband — Solitude and Sociability

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Day 6 — Are solitude and sociability polar opposites?

When my husband left for his annual winter junket I wrote about looking forward to three weeks alone.

In the past few days a major storm left me housebound with no choice but solitude.  It was quite lovely but by this weekend I needed to spend time with others.

Benefits of Solitude

While solitude is not a choice for everyone and nor is it a choice that I always want for myself, there are benefits from time spent alone.

Eliminating exchanges with others enhances contemplation. There is time to think.  

I use time alone to re-balance my inner self — as a means of restoration.  It gives me time to evaluate and to plan and just to be.

Without the distraction that comes from interaction with others my thought patterns change. There is more natural ‘flow’ which helps with writing and other creative projects. There are no interruptions. There are no demands — real or implicit — from others.

But solitude has its limitations.

Sociability

Interactions with others are an essential counter-balance to solitude.  Social relationships are important ingredients for a happy and fulfilled life.

Socializing with interesting people makes me thrive.  The ‘give-and-take’ of a good conversation stimulates my brain.  It provides a type of creative energy that’s impossible to get from being alone.

That’s why I jumped at an invitation to play bridge last night, found myself lingering in good conversation at a luncheon after church today, and thoroughly enjoyed a dinner with my son and daughter-in-law this evening.

Finding the Balance

While solitude and sociability are polar opposites, a balanced life has a place for both.

I crave solitude and am never bored when I’m alone.  I don’t need to be with people to feel fulfilled and happy.

I also recognize that I thrive when I spend time with people.   The energy flow that comes from others is stimulating.  The people in my life provide love, support, encouragement, laughter, compassion and the occasional ‘dressing-down’ when I need it.

Solitude rejuvenates. It then allows appreciation of the time spent with others. The trick is to find the right balance.

21 Days Without my Husband — A Winter Storm Approaches

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Day 3 without my husband — I’m settling-in to await arrival of the biggest snow storm to hit the Greater Toronto Area in many years.

Canadians stay aware of the weather at all times — especially during winter when storms can get dangerous. Today Environment Canada issued a storm warning that predicts 20 – 30 centimeters  of snow along with high winds and temperatures of minus 10-12 Celsius.

In other words, it will snow a lot; it will be freezing cold; and the wind will blow everything around causing white-outs!  We are in for a good old-fashioned blizzard.

It’s time to ‘hunker down’ and prepare to take a break from the everyday world.

For the duration of the storm, I will cocoon at home.  I’ll enjoy my stash of snacks, dip into the stock of wine, and eat comfort food until the weather calms down.

There is a good supply of reading on my bedside table to keep me amused.  I’ve worked my way through the finalist best sellers of the CBC Canada Reads competition but have finished only two of the five books.   I must also finish reading the novel we will discuss at  the February book club meeting .

If reading gets tiresome, there is also lots of sewing and stitching to complete the baby quilt that I have started for our first grandchild who will be born in the spring.  And, of course, there are always knitting projects should I get too idle!

With a storm approaching it is time to hope for no loss of electricity.  Underground hydro lines in our suburb give good stability in the supply of power.  If there is an outage, I’ve prepared the fireplace with kindling and logs.  I’ve also ensured that flashlights have working batteries and that there is supply of candles.

Hopefully the approaching storm will just be a major nuisance.  I do confess that my big worry during a storm is for no loss of electricity because that means the furnace stops. The fireplace in  the family room puts out some heat but won’t keep me comfortable for very long.

A couple of days ago I wrote about enjoying time alone during these 21 days without my husband.  Perhaps this nasty weather system is colluding to enforce my dream of solitude during my husband’s absence. Since I won’t be able to leave home, solitude is my only choice!

21 Days Without my Husband — Feeling the Freedom

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Day 2 — I’m feeling the freedom!

I woke up to bright blue skies. A good dose of February sunshine always cheers me.  Perhaps it’s my Saskatchewan roots where the sun shines every day of the winter even when it’s freezing cold.

It felt a bit strange not to chat with my husband this morning.

I decided that breakfast would be more fun with music and played a recent Four Tenors CD at top volume.  Those arias had me singing at the top of my lungs even though I don’t carry a tune very well and don’t know Italian.  I asked myself “who cares?”

Today was the perfect day to have lunch with an awesome friend who is full of life.  Aside from some great Thai food we had an animated conversation.

Spending time with people who are excited about life and who are doing interesting things is energizing.  The fact that I had all the time in the world to enjoy being with my friend made the lunch even more special.

Why the feeling of freedom?

As I thought about the feeling of freedom that I had through the day, I wondered why I felt this so strongly.

I’m not in a marriage where my husband controls what I do, who I see, nor when I do things.  He encourages me to live my life as I please.  Our relationship is strong and allows each of us lots of personal space.

But today I felt none of the obligations that come from being in a relationship.  My choices were not restricted nor limited by any expectations that I place on myself.

The day was mine to do as I pleased.  Hence, the feeling of freedom!

I’m not sure that I would want every day to be like this as I know that purpose in life is important to me.  But for me, in this time and in this place, today was a perfect gift for a perfect sunny day!

 

 

21 Days Without My Husband — Day 1

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Today my husband left for his annual vacation junket to Trinidad — without me.  I declined the invitation to travel with him – as I do every year.

Most people gasp when they hear this.

They ask why I don’t  go with him.  They admonish me for missing the carnival festivities on the island.  They are astonished that I won’t take an opportunity to leave the cold and snow of our Canadian winter. Some are still surprised at the idea of separate vacations.

For many years this extended holiday which is usually a full month, happened when I was working 14-16 hour days at the office and travelling every week.  People understood that I couldn’t take vacation leave for an extended period during a busy time at work.

Separate Vacations

We fell into the routine of separate vacations many years ago.  Sometimes it was more convenient because of child care, or vacation time frames, or invitations to travel with friends.

But now that we are both retired, everyone thinks I’m just a bit touched to miss an opportunity to spend time in the sun.  They wonder why we keep the tradition of separate vacations.

Change of Routine

What they don’t understand is that there are real benefits for both of us from the change of routine.  I love the guy and I miss him, But after 46 years of marriage, both of us deserve some time alone.

I don’t particularly like travelling — perhaps because I did enough of it while working.  I hate packing and unpacking. I don’t like airports and I don’t like too many disruptions to routines.

My husband likes travel.  He is more adventuresome than I.  He values connections with his country of birth.

The annual junket during carnival season allows him to enjoy his friends and family in Trinidad.  I don’t have to pretend to enjoy the crowds nor the noise nor the mosquitos that are part of carnival in his country.

Solitude

The truth is that I enjoy being alone for an extended time each year.

I eat when I want to eat.  I sleep when I want to sleep. I stay up until the wee hours reading, playing the piano, watching movies and working on various hobbies.  I amuse myself and enjoy my postworksavvy lifestyle.

Day 1 of 21 Days alone

This year I decided that I would blog about this mini vacation starting with today — Day 1.

After the usual rush of helping with last-minute packing and driving to the airport, I decided that a yoga class and some relaxation would be a treat.  After yoga, I had time for a cup of tea with a couple of yoga buddies with no worries about getting home to make dinner.

Once I reached home I walked around the house rather aimlessly.  It felt empty. I realized that I missed my husband even though his plane had hardly left the tarmac.

Our house is big when both of us are here but it feels bigger with just me and two cats.  I found myself setting the alarm system as soon darkness fell — not because I’m afraid to be alone, but just because I’m here alone.  It’s also very quiet.

A phone call from our son was a welcome diversion as was the need to feed the cats and clean the litter boxes — both tasks that are not usually my job.

It will take at least 24 hours for me to get used to being alone.  It will also take some time to fall into the groove of solitude.

 

How shovelling wood chips gives a new perspective on retirement

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With retirement comes the gift of time and the capacity to use time in your own way.  You are free to eat when you want to eat, sleep when you want to sleep, play at new hobbies, and yes, manage those pesky tasks that relate to daily living.

Sometimes, though, you need to ‘mix things up’ to get a new perspective.  That’s how I discovered that the pesky task of shovelling wood chips would change my outlook.

In the past week I’ve been shovelling wood chips and loving it.  You may wonder what inspirations for a successful retirement can be found when postworksavvy finds herself mindlessly shovelling wood chips into a wheel barrow and moving the wood chips to perennial beds or to a giant compost pile.

How did I get mixed up with wood chips?

The wood chips were left at our cottage after removal of three dead and damaged trees.

When I asked the contractor to leave the wood chips I had no idea that three mature trees would make a pile that is over 6 feet high and more than 8 feet across.

Wheel Barrow and Wood Chips

Only Half of the Woods Chips have Moved

My plan was (and is) to use the wood chips as mulch in some of the beds of my evolving shade garden.

For more than two weeks I avoided the wood chip pile despite comments from neighbours about the size of the pile.  Last weekend, after the Ontario heat wave broke, I borrowed a wheel barrow and began to move the wood chips.  As I sit down to write this post, half of the pile has been moved.

How does moving wood chips provide satisfaction?

The sense of satisfaction grows as I watch the pile grow smaller.  It provides tangible evidence of accomplishment which provides inspiration to continue with the task.

Shovelling wood chips is light exercise. My muscles ache from the repetitive exertion but the ache is pleasant.  Exercising in a new way provides a pleasant change from the usual physical exercise routines (yoga, swimming, walking, and weights) that keep me agile.

The bonus of this mundane task is that I am outdoors enjoying the benefits of fresh air at my woodland cottage setting.  Aside from a few bothersome mosquitos, it is interesting to see the variety of beetles, ants and other insects that have found their way into the pile of wood chips.

Moving wheelbarrow loads of wood chips is a routine task that allows the mind to wander.  There is time for reverie as I mindlessly load and unload the wood chips.  My brain moves out of its usual thinking ruts and I have time to consider other ways of looking at old problems.

A New Perspective

You don’t need a load of wood chips to gain a new perspective.  Any change that involves a new task — especially a task involving physical work — can move you from the ruts you are in.

A few years ago, a colleague who was an accountant told me that she refused to participate on her church’s finance committee because she wanted to do something that was not related to her daily routines.  She signed up for kitchen duties related to coffee hour.  Working in the kitchen was very different from the professional roles which she usually occupied.  She told me that she looked forward to the kitchen duties as these tasks provided a welcome change.

Methodically working away at moving the wood chips made me think of her comment.  Because I spent most of my career days in a ‘thinking environment’ of meetings, reports and professional activities I have naturally gravitated to books, to service on volunteer boards and to writing during my retirement.  These activities provide satisfaction while allowing me to continue to use skills that I acquired during my career.

Moving the wood chips has offered a pleasant change.  I realized that I enjoyed pushing the wheelbarrow more than I had ever enjoyed attending meetings.  I realized again how much I enjoyed my own company, doing physical work, and being outdoors.

By mixing things up in your life you gain a new perspective.  Sometimes new perspectives emerge in the strangest fashion like the mindless and repetitive task of moving a very large pile of wood chips.

Postworksavvy is interested in your comments.  If you like this post, please become a subscriber, email the post to your friends and tell others about the blog.

 

 

 

Indulgence — Experiencing a mini-retreat

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Last week I wrote about retreats and mused about the many benefits of such experiences.  I also postulated that mini-retreats during retirement would bring many benefits.

Little did I know that I was actually going to experience a mini-retreat within days of writing that post.

The seeds were sown last winter when I suggested to members of the bridge club that we should take an excursion to the summer theatre at Stratford (Ontario) for one of their Shakespearean performances.  I also offered that we could stay at our cottage which is only about 45 minutes away.

After much coordination of schedules and discussion of which performance to see, we purchased tickets for a matinée performance of Much Ado About Nothing.  

How did going to the theatre and playing bridge turn into a mini-retreat?

Three of my bridge buddies arrived at the cottage last Wednesday afternoon.  The weather was warm and sunny.  After driving for most the afternoon everyone was ready for snacks and refreshments on the deck.

Spirits were high as we toasted our friendships over dinner and then gathered for the first evening of bridge.

As our time together evolved, we shared stories and discussed a range of issues — joys of retirement; worries about health; lifestyle choices; family changes; hobbies and time management.

Secrets were shared while washing dishes and during leisurely morning cups of coffee.  In conversation we affirmed each other as women and respectfully challenged opinions.

And, yes, we did get to the theatre.  The performance was excellent.  As memorable as the Shakespearean comedy were the beautiful gardens surrounding the Festival Theatre. We admired the elegant white swans on the tranquil Thames River.  The summer sunshine made the day perfect.

After a beach walk we had another evening of bridge and an animated conversation that continued until the wee hours of the morning.  When I worried about insufficient sleep, one of my friends reminded me that renewed energy comes not only from sleep but also from deep connections and heartfelt exchanges.

It was a this point that I realized that I wasn’t just entertaining my friends at the cottage but that the experience was rejuvenating me — it was a mini-retreat!

What made this experience a mini-retreat?

  • We were in a relaxed and natural environment where daily routines were abandoned.  We listened to birds and not to cell phones.
  • Playing bridge and attending the theatre provided enough structure to the time we spent with each other to shape the days without anyone feeling rushed or feeling any pressure to take part in something that was not enjoyable.
  • Conversations were lively but heartfelt; laughter was abundant; there was lots of good food and good wine.
  • As experiences were recounted, each of us continued the work of understanding the narrative of our personal journey.  We affirmed ourselves and each other by sharing these stories with each other.

What began as a summer theatre and bridge date evolved into a time of self-renewal.  As I waved good-bye I felt the same renewed sense of purpose that I experienced when attending business retreats during my professional life.

The time spent with my friends brought a surge of increased energy and a new perspective.  What an unexpected blessing!

 

 

Too Many Choices –Time Management Decisions in Retirement

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‘”Too much to do — too little time”

Yesterday, in the post-exercise coffee shop conversation at the gym several women lamented about how busy they were.

They complained that their retirement schedules were as over-crowded as work schedules had been.  Everyone struggled to find enough time for the gym, for grand-children, for hobbies, for travel, or for volunteering.  When routine household and gardening chores were added, the days became unmanageable and dissatisfying.

The idyllic retirement of relaxation, enjoying lots of free time and living in the moment seemed out of reach.

photo courtesy of Matei D.

Why is time management during retirement  a problem?

Quite simply — there are too many choices.   The free time in retirement offers many options — and many distractions.  There are so many opportunities to enjoy life:  book club, tennis, bridge, volunteering, gardening, short and longer trips, grand-children, etc. etc.

It’s easy to drift through the days and weeks without focus on how time is used.

Most of us retire with no clear plan to fill the time available. We have desires and dreams but insufficient focus. Suddenly months have passed and retirement dreams are even more distant.

Conquering the Dilemma of ‘Too Many Choices’

To keep retirement dreams alive basic time management skills learned during career years need to be adapted to the retirement lifestyle.

Instead of thinking about how you use the hours of every day, focusing on what you want to achieve during retirement is essential.

photo courtesy of viZZZual.com

Perhaps this will mean more involvement with your family, your church, your community.  It could mean learning new skills or conquering the bucket list made in preparation for retirement.

Focusing on what you want to achieve means that you already know what makes you happy and what excites you.  It means that you know what’s important in your life and that you are prepared to ignore.

The ‘hard’ Choices

The difficult time management choice in retirement comes from disciplining yourself to use some time each day to work on those things you want to achieve.  You don’t want to be enslaved to the achievements you have identified but it’s important to stay focused.

By setting aside time for those things that make you happy you will have that feeling of accomplishment and productivity that rewards you at the end of each day.  The days will feel worthwhile as you practise positive planning.

Making the ‘hard’ choices also involves saying ‘no’.  While it’s difficult to say no to others, it’s sometimes more difficult to say ‘no’ to personal desires.  It take discipline to avoid distractions.

By staying focused on what is important in your retirement, using the ‘no’ word will become easier.  The skills used during your career and parenting years can help you.

You made hard choices that helped you get to where you are now.  Just as you checked of performance goals during your career or watched your children mature with your focused parental guidance, so can you watch your retirement happiness grow as you make choices to achieve those goals and aspirations that you have for your retirement success.

Another difficult choice is deciding what to ignore.  As important as understanding what you want to achieve is understanding what you are willing not to achieve.

Retirement is a time when  previous expectations can be abandoned.

For example, if you don’t plan to go back to work nor to do part-time work, do you need to maintain professional credentials and professional registrations?  Often these involve time (and costs) for continuing education which might be something that can be left behind.

You might also evaluate whether all of the household chores and gardening tasks are necessary.  Living in s smaller space or hiring help might be options that allow you to ignore unnecessary obligations that eat up precious retirement time.

By evaluating what you can ignore you free yourself to stay focused on choices you can make for effective use of that precious time in life when time is really your own — so long as you manage it to meet your own expectations.

 

 

Why Overcoming the Habit of Multi-tasking Creates a Successful Retirement

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Did you spend most of your career juggling several priorities?

Was it commonplace to deal with too many demands — work/home; personal/career?

Did you feel inundated with responsibilities and requests?

Did you wish for more hours in the day to complete tasks?

In the last few years of my working life, I could answer ‘yes’ to each of these questions. Driven by ‘superwoman’ tendencies, I developed some bad coping habits as I dealt with an overloaded agenda.

As I learn how to live in the postworksavvy world of retirement, I sometimes feel these habits creep back into my days and I struggle to put them behind me.

Multi-tasking is one of these habits.

At the office, I learned that I could deal with emails while on conference calls.  I learned to make notes for presentations and to write outlines for reports during boring meetings.  I learned to ‘listen with one ear’ to colleagues while making mental ‘to do’ lists.

I neglected many home and family responsibilities leaving my husband to carry on with apologies that Jeanette was travelling on business or that Jeanette got delayed at the office.

Initially, these strategies helped me to use time effectively.  Eventually they became survival mechanisms.

Productivity gets Compromised — Personal Life Suffers

Upon reflection, I’m certain that my productivity was compromised, and not enhanced when I did more than one thing at once.

Sometimes multi-tasking increased the amount of time needed to complete easy tasks. Splitting attention among required activities may have caused mistakes.

Multi-tasking takes brain power

photo courtesy of sparklefish

Most definitely, multi-tasking depleted my energy level.  Enjoyment was undermined. My family and my personal life were neglected.

Old habits are hard to break

My retirement brought a resolution to take things more slowly and ‘smell the roses.’

However old habits creep back and sometimes I find myself doing two things at once while mentally calculating how to start a third activity.

Others who have retired report similar experiences.  Making the transition to a new lifestyle requires leaving behind those old ways of coping — including habits like multi-tasking.

Focus

Learning to focus on one thing at a time — what yoga refers to as mindfulness — is a great way to begin.  You don’t have to take up yoga or meditation to conquer the habit of multi-tasking.   Some common sense and easy to master techniques will help.

  • Consciously slow down – especially when you find yourself rushing to an appointment or to finish a task.
  • Remain intentional — remember that you have the whole day and that you control how you will spend the time.
  • Limit distractions – resolve to stay focused on what you are doing.  Turn off electronics when you need to concentrate on listening to your partner or comforting a friend or writing a blog post.  It’s safe to opt out — the world will wait for you.
  • photo by cambodia4kidsorgSchedule start and stop times – decide how much time you will fully devote to an activity before taking a break or shifting gears.
  • Allow ‘goof off’ time – sometimes you just can’t get into an activity so be kind to yourself by giving yourself permission to ‘goof off’.

Learning to observe your responses is important in stopping the old habit of multi-tasking.  Remember that old mistakes don’t have to be repeated and that old habits don’t need to continue.

The self-control you develop will bring more satisfaction to every day.  And you will have the time to fully savour every sweet postworksavvy moment.