New Life - Again

I'm starting to feel like all life is only a series of starts and stops. That the "new beginnings" or the "starting overs" will never end.

I've carried some routines and plans with me. I still work out a several times a week, but the class schedule at the new gym isn't as easy to adopt to my work schedule. I'm working out at home more often but don't feel like I'm maximizing the time like I otherwise do in group classes.

I have achieved a 10-mile radius (work, home, childcare, and the gym) to keep time wasted in commuting to almost zero. This is so important to me. I don't have much time to do the things I want to do, and I certainly don't want that time scrapped because a chunk of my day is spent in the car.

After some trial and error, our mornings are smooth again. I feel like I have to stay one step ahead of myself to accomplish everything in such a small time. Packing our bags (for the gym and a mostly potty trained toddler) the night before is a pain but makes all the difference in a successful morning.

Dinnertime is still a challenge, will it ever be easy? I am so tired by the end of the day, the last thing I want to do is cook. Even careful planning doesn't help. We've blown the budget and eaten take-out more often than we should. I have to get better at this.

I have been able to carve out more time for myself in the evenings. I pop on a tv show and watch one episode of something while I get dinner going (even if I'm just serving up take-out on plates). By the time that episode is over, we move on to bath/bedtime routines. Since the little one is older and now has his own room, I've found an hour at the end of each day to read before I turn in for the night. It has been bliss.

Life is comfortable. We are doing just fine.