Countdown to the Weekend

          When I was a Caregiver I almost preferred weekdays to weekends. Why? Well, there was routine. I had an aide during the week that I trusted with Gramps more than the occasional weekend help I had. There was a rhythm to the weekday that was lacking on Saturdays and Sundays. The only real advantage to the weekend was the fact I didn’t have to work professionally. However, I worked a lot at home. A typical Saturday morning included cleaning both my place, and Gramps’ place, dusting, vacuuming, and the bathrooms. I tried to wrap up the chores as far as going to the grocery store and bank on Fridays, to avoid the weekend rush. Now, I look forward to my weekends – they are free and it’s so liberating. I am lighter.

I learned a few tricks though from my Caregiving days that I still follow. First, I try to go to the bank and grocery store at “off hours” and times where I can avoid the lines and the wait times. Now with ATMS at the bank for deposits as well as withdrawals, and self-checkout at the grocery store, it isn’t too bad if you have to run to the store to a thing or two. Although generally, the bulk of my shopping I do during the week at times where I know either most of the world is at work or home putting kids to bed.

The other thing I learned that I bring with me into my personal life and will take with me forever, is the value of routines. My old boss used to ask, “You wake up in the morning, and then what do you do?” At work, there is a rhythm that may start with voice mails, emails, and a cup a coffee. At home, there is a rhythm to getting ready for the day, brush teeth, wash face, shower, get dressed, hair and makeup, breakfast and so on. There is comfort in knowing how the day begins and how it ends. The middle part is up for grabs and there is room for spontaneity –somewhat a luxury I couldn’t afford as a Caregiver.

I have a lot more free time now, more than I ever had in my whole life. I enjoy it. However, the other thing I learned is to try to fit enjoyment into my weekdays and not save all the fun-time for the weekend only. Sometimes it’s something light, such as a lunch with friends, or a dinner out, or even a walk around outside to window shop and take in the sites, doing some people watching. I try not to make work my life, and when my work day is done, I move on into the personal space of my life and make effort to enjoy that time as well.

The point of this is that there is a time and place for structure, and there is a time for the unexpected, but however way you spend your time, we are all given the same 24-hours, 7-days per week, so make the most of them. Counting down to fun-time could make you miss out on now-time and time is the one resource none of us will ever have enough. Don’t waste it! It’s our most precious resource.