Schedule change-up! Didn’t feel like posting yesterday. So guess what? I didn’t. I was going to get my Week-in-Review on, but my weekend recap just wasn’t flowing. Unlike some other things in my life. See, I’ve been changing more than my blogging schedule. I’m working on shaking up my old routine and rerouting a few not-that-great habits, and in the process? I’m finding more time while rushing less, although I’m not quite sure how that’s working. I believe we can examine this phenomenon further with a fresh day-in-the-life!
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Wake up at 4:30am.
This used to be 4am. See? Now it’s a reasonable hour.
Roll onto the floor, do some yoga (aka 10-ish minutes of stretching).
This used to be “stumble into the kitchen, fumble for coffee.”
Make some smooce (I’m not really sure if this counts as a smoothie or as juice).
This used to be “make and scarf a big breakfast.”
Finish my smooce while free-writing in my journal.
This used to be “frantically tidy and pack for the day.”
Hit the patio at 6am. Sip coffee, read and/or watch the garden grow.
This used to be “hit the gym at 5am. Come home, frantically get showered, dressed and out the door.”
Start work at 7am. Eat second breakfast. Stare at a computer screen.
This hasn’t changed.
Hit the gym at 11am.
This used to be “take a quick 15 minute walk or just skip lunch break altogether.”
Work 2pm to 6pm. Stare at a computer screen.
This used to be “work 11:15am to 4pm. Stare at a computer screen.”
Go for a walk while waiting for for traffic to subside.
This used to be “angrily sit in traffic. Angrily get home.”
Get home and leisurely make dinner.
This used to be “pull something out of the freezer.”
Tidy the house, relax, spend time with friends.
This used to be “unproductively kill time until friends get out of work.”
Hit the hay.
Nope, hasn’t changed much. I still tend to sleep on a regular nightly basis. (Now think of all I could get done if I could just change that requirement.)
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So how have I found more hours without actually finding more hours? I just…slowed down. It seems counter-intuitive, and yet it feels so wonderful. Everything is still getting done. With a heck of a lot less internal pressure. Yes, I still have my frantic days, my days filled with “shoulds” and the days when my schedule just won’t cooperate, but then I simply remember my favorite things try to remember to just take it easy. Life’s meant to be enjoyed, not rushed through.
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Are there enough hours in your day? How do you remind yourself to slow down?
ForgottenBeast 
How many hours a day do you work?? 7am – 6pm every day?? Cray cray.
I was thinking that, too! yikes!
Wait, it looks like Allie gets a super long lunch break between 11 and 2.
It’s a nice go to the gym break 😉
You caught it! Nothing like a 2-3 hour lunch break…
Ludicrously long lunch break! But yeah, it’s still a long day.
This is awesome, Allie!! It sounds like you’re much more relaxed now, (but still getting to do everrything!)
yayayaya! Love these Day in the Life posts and it really sounds like your schedule is much more laid back now.
My own schedule is starting to relax, too, so I really do understand how much better it makes you feel! Feeling that pressure alleviate is so amazing.
I have been journaling a lot more too, lately. Even if nothing changes about my current situation, writing in a journal always helps me to sort things out.
And it’s about to get way MORE relaxed ;D
I don’t know how journaling works, but I can’t believe how relaxing I’m finding it!
Holy cow, your hours are long!! I can’t believe you get up that early just to chill. I’m tired just reading about your day haha
Haha, and yet it’s somehow less exhausting than when I used to try packing everything together!
That’s sort of how I operate too… except I wake up later and work later I love to workout at lunch, so I don’t mind that I work later. Except now that I can’t workout I’m just working through lunch. Lame.
I thought I’d hate working later to take a longer lunch, but oh my gosh, it’s such a nice break to the day!
Sounds like a nice schedule and like you’re enjoying life. You only get one life so might as well enjoy it 😀
You and your leisurely new live. It sounds less stressful just reading about it. What time do you actually go to bed in order to get up at 4:30am with such energy?
I’ve been dragging ass lately thanks to sinus pressure, so I fall in and out of crappy sleep from 10pm-12am on the couch only to get up at 6:30am. Isn’t working out at lunch lovely? I like it minus the whole “shower and stop looking like a tomato” thing. Such a waste of time. I bolt out the door as close to 5pm as I can, but I really should just take a longer lunch and leave later to avoid traffic, but THE GUILT.
9:30/10-ish for bedtime. It’s not a ton of sleep, but I’m not a huge sleeper. Except on weekends, when I’m pretty sure I could take a nap every other hour. But that says more about my weekend livin’ style than my need for sleep…
I thought I’d hate the lunch workout, but decided to give it a try–and yes, amazing. But being sweaty and red for afternoon work should be totally acceptable.
I applaud you for getting your ass to bed by that time. I’m hardly ever remotely close to sleep by then. Unless I’m rocking a headache.
Looove this post. I need to remind myself to slow down 🙂
Always good to slow down. Thanks for the insight!
oh my days! your days are long! I’m glad you are slowing down, although that sure seems like a busy day to me!
Even with not working now, I seem to not have enough time. Trying to do it more like you, Allie. Calm down and enjoy the day as it comes. Good job!
I love this post! A slower paced life is so much better and worth the effort of making some changes! I’m on summer break, so I’ve slowed down, but I hope I can stick with that mentality when the fall semester comes along!
I love this post. It absolutely seems counter intuitive yet it works, and you’re happier doing most things because all the pressure is gone. Also, as you already know, I’m a huge fan of the lunch hour workout session. It’s a great mid-day break and totally worth staying late, especially if it means avoiding traffic. I’m digging your new routine. You are a rock star!!
“Life’s meant to be enjoyed, not rushed through.” <- Amen! And seriously, I cannot even TELL you how many times I have wished to just be done with the whole sleep thing…it really is so redundant, is it not? I mean, can't I just do it like every OTHER day? 😉
Over the last few weeks, I've been trying to focus more on me and not on the "to do list" (in quotation marks because none of it ever really seems like it HAS to be done, I just pile it on so I can see what it feels like to drown without even being near water!). I have to say I'm feeling much more relaxed on most days, but I'm still struggling to find a balance…you know, since I'm like three weeks behind in blog reading and all!