The familiar beep is annoying at best. Ironic since I chose that particular sound because it was the least annoying.
Six a.m. on a Friday . . .
My world . . .
Stumble in the darkness, a daily metaphor, shower, toss down some orange juice, and settle down in front of the computer no later than 6:30. That time is important to me, though I know not why.
Pound out the words, make customers happy, it’s always about the customers, check emails for instructions, communicate confusion, finally settle into a rhythm of content b.s. designed to score higher with the Google gods, what a silly, silly game I play . . . but it pays the bills and that cannot be ignored.
Everything goes smoothly, done by ten, giving me half an hour to slay some bad guys in my latest novel, and ten-thirty marks the time to clean up the kitchen and prepare for an early lunch with Bev, who is due home by eleven.
Day in, day out, sunrise, sunset, swiftly flow the years . . .
The afternoons are for the farm, feed the chickens, go for a walk with Maggie, make repairs to coops, that sort of thing, thoroughly enjoyable except during mud season, and then not so much, but even my worst days are pretty damned good.
More often than not inspiration visits me on the farm. My muse loves it out there and, seriously, why wouldn’t she?
Home by three, clean up the house, feed dogs, check emails, organize for the next day, and settle in for Bev’s return at six-thirty. Most evenings are for us, our alone time, the time when bonding happens and the marriage is strengthened.
And that’s how my days go. I stick to a routine because, well, life is better for me in a routine. It’s taken me a lifetime to reach that realization. Obsessive-compulsive personalities, like mine, function better when the days are mapped out and randomness is eliminated.
And I’m fine with that. I do all right. I accomplish things within the confinement, not allowing the addictions to roam free. It’s worked well for me for twelve years now; don’t fix it if it ain’t broken, or as a mentor once told me, adopt the K.I.S.S. Method . . . Keep It Simple Stupid!
What works for you, works for you. What works for me, works for me.
Bill
“Helping writers to spread their wings and fly.”
Billybuc
Artistry With Words 
I am with you on setting a schedule daily here and like you I begin my day around 6:30 workwise, as well. And also like you; it just works so why fight it. I suppose. Thanks for sharing and Happy Tuesday now, Bill!! 🙂
Why fight it indeed, Janine.If it ain’t broke don’t fix it, right? 🙂 Thanks so much, my friend.
Hi Bill – On the writing front you accomplish a great deal. The schedule works for you as taking care of the ‘farm’ also must be a challenge. Then of course, ‘the customers’ that has to be annoying.
Mike, customers are only annoying if I allow them to be, and I’m sure they say the same thing about me. 🙂 Thanks buddy!
You’ve obviously found a good rhythm that is just right for you Bill, there’s nothing wrong with routine if it’s the right kind 🙂
I completely agree, Andrea. I’ve done the wrong routines and I much prefer this approach. Thank you!
I love hearing about your routine. Yes, you have yours and I have mine, but I think it helps seeing how others do what they do! Thanks for sharing.
It is my pleasure, Donna. Thanks for commenting and being affirming.
Twelve years, you say? I’d love a streak of simple contentedness like that. Seems I find my groove for a while and then life gets in the way again. I do like your K.I.S.S. method, though, and I’ll have to remember that. LOL
Shannon, I think KISS was invented just for me. lol
I’m impressed with your routine, Bill. If only I could establish a routine! 😕
Thank you my friend. Whatever works, right?
I like your schedule, Big Bro. 🙂 You know, no matter how busy I get, I *always* try to make sure to sit down to dinner with my Juanito and spend time together each evening. Do I get out much otherwise? Nah. I need to spend more time in nature, thank you very much. I want to be better about communing with the trees, lol. I love your writing life, and feeding all those chickens sounds pretty relaxing. You got it figured out, Big Bro. More folks should follow your example. 🙂
Hey Lil Sis, for sure,communing with the trees is crucial for happiness. You seem to have your priorities pretty straight; wish I had at your age. 🙂
There’s a lot to be said of routine and structure as long as it works for you. I wish I was better at it.
I’m sure whatever works for you,Lori, works just fine. 🙂 Thanks for being here.
Well, it’s admirable to see that you have got it together. Linda C’s way, I suppose. Peace.
Thank you Manatita! “Got it together” is a stretch, but one can always hope. 🙂 Love and peace always!
Bill, I’m a person of routine, too. It just makes life easier to put some things on automatic pilot. I love that your routine culminates in alone time with Bev by which the bonding strengthens your marriage. Keeping a routine definitely has its benefits!
Thank you Sha! We do seem to have strengthened our bond over the ten years we have been together, and for that I am very grateful.
Despite what my family refers to as my ‘unpredictable’ nature, I prefer to have a routine. That way I know what needs doing and how long it will take. I find this gives me more time to play. However, I’m not a slave to it. Every now and then I like to shake things up and do something out of the ordinary. If I didn’t do this, the routine would soon wear me down and then nothing would get done because I would be in the throes of depression. I find a solid routine is a good foundation to launch into ‘fun time’. When I’m done, I know I can easily slip back into the old routine and feel grounded again.
Thanks for sharing, Zulma! Launch into fun time….I wonder what that looks like for you, the actual launching? 🙂 Would love to see it!
Gee, Bill, you just missed it. Took three days off to crochet some Christmas decorations, do some window shopping and have coffee with my husband. It was fun. Now I’ve got to catch up on all the emails and laundry that’s piled up. 😦 Never mind. It was totally worth it.
Damn, I always miss the cool stuff. 🙂
I’ve been wondering why I don’t get notifications of your posts and realized today it was because I was following you from another account / blog I’d been using. I’m glad that I figured that out because I enjoy reading your posts.
Due to having ADHD, I have to stick to routines. I schedule my free time, even spontaneous time. If it isn’t scheduled, it seldom is completed so I’ve found the calm of routine to help me. My next step is to better schedule that time, one of this year’s goals, so I do more ahead of time versus always on a deadline. I think that will let me enjoy it more versus only sometimes.
Well,Shell, I don’t have ADHD and yet that’s exactly how I live my life. 🙂 Idle mind, for me, is not a good situation. I need structure. 🙂
The mind is so fascinating!