School started for my oldest two in early August. It’s been chaos to settle into a new writing routine between a new schedule, sleep deprivation, and the first illnesses of the season.
The goal was to spend some time writing after I got back from dropping off my spawn at elementary. It would look something like this:
- Drop off adorable spawn
- Feed toddler breakfast
- Write while the toddler has some sort of morning entertainment
- Exercise
- Work
This would put me being ready to work around 10 a.m., which tracks with when I’d get started in summer.
I thought the schedule was genius, as the time right after breakfast is when my toddler is usually distracted. I’d be able to write in a flow state and get words out for about 30-60 minutes without issues.
The Reality of Back to School and writing
I’ve only managed to write immediately after feeding the toddler breakfast once. On the fourth day of back to school, my oldest fell sick. We’ve spent the last five days cycling between colds and strep throat since.
Now I need to find a new, fool-proof routine that isn’t going to be slaughtered by sudden changes in plans. Because writing after the dust settles of the morning madness wasn’t successful, and when small humans are sick I’m often whisking them to doctor appointments in the morning.
The new plan is to try to write after lunch. I tend to be more awake in the afternoon than in the mornings anyway. So by the rules of flow state, I should be writing here anyway. But I’m often working afternoons or in meetings (excuses excuses). I’ll need to get clever and sneak in a writing break, I think.
Having control of my schedule is great, until the chaos sets in and suddenly writing time is cast aside to take care of immediate needs. Wish me luck as I work writing back into the new schedule.
