Day 278/366 days Towards Self-Mastery.
Pandemic at 8 months and counting. The string of memes coming through my timeline are hilarious as creative types turn comedian and we see what it's really like in households where both parents are working from home and home-schooling their children while having to deal with limits to their movements and social distancing.
There needs to be a gap filler of those of us who have been working at home for decades. "How to successfully work from home" is probably the title of many a blog. Lol! I just googled that title - 9,240,000,000 results!
That puts a considerable amount of pressure on me right now!
When I began to work from home my motivation wasn't any pandemic, but the realisation that I wanted to be available for my son before and after school, I wanted to reduce my outgoing expenses so relinquished an office in the local community, and I wanted the freedom to work when it suited me, and to rest when I needed it. In short I wanted more freedom in my life than my business was giving me. And I wanted to be the best mum I could be, even if that compromised my income somewhat.
Eventually I realised that I needed to structure my days for productivity as well as freedom.
Turning to the tried and true worked for me, and continues to this day. By 9 a.m. my son was off to school, and I could sit down to work until pick up time at 3pm. That was ample time to do the office work I needed to do. My business then ran a public childcare service from 3 - 6 pm.
Weekends were family and home time. With soccer on Saturday mornings and sailing on Sundays, we had a full weekend schedule. Moments of garden maintenance in between connected us with our immediate natural surrounds as we settled into the routine that we had established for ourselves.
Whatever you choose for yourself, make it realistic and doable.
When I considered the situation that parents find themselves in today I realised that one thing I wouldn't do was home school in the way it seems to be set up for parents. Many parents are creative enough to realised their limitations and those of their children outside the classroom. It entertaining and encouraging to read about the many ways parents have adjusted their family lives. Allowing their children to find their own pace, to work at what is interesting and captivating for them, to focus on what's important and to learn from the nature in their gardens and the household activities and chores in between online lessons.
In all things we need to think for ourselves. Or course teachers have to retain their livelihood and will do their best to convert all in class lessons to online versions. Of course schools and education departments will need to justify their existence and institute punitive measures for parents and children who don't keep up. If you can see these things for what they are, you won't let them worry you too much. Let them be, and do as you please, and as it works for you and your family. The moment you do as you are told even to your own detriment, you are abandoning yourself, your family and your self-worth.
Find the solution that works for you. As we move headlong into a global recession, you will likely get more opportunity to work from home as business slash costs which might include your cubicle and desk chair.
If you work for others you will have deadlines and activities to accomplish. Fit them around a balanced family schedule. If you are a business owner, do the next thing. That might be planning and figuring out where your business will head in the next few months, or something else. Do the next right thing.
Good luck out there. Stay centred in your wisdom and... do the next thing.
366 days Towards Self-Mastery
When I considered my New Year's intentions for 2020 I had just one: To allow my heart to love what it loved...and let it lead me. (If not now, then when?)
I've spent months working on integrating my life. To live life more fully with my home life, my interests, my work, my responsibilities, all coming together, all connected. I want to give each the attention that they desire and need, and still have time and energy for the others. That means living and working from the heart.
As I was clearing out my bookshelf over the Christmas break I discovered Simple Abundance. I set it aside to explore it on New Year's Day as I lazed through another delicious day of nothingness. Sarah, the author, says this book is about living in grace. Living in grace I realised, is about Self-Mastery.
My thirst for understanding the human condition has driven me all my life, and hand-in-hand with self-mastery it has been a life-long goal. And seeing as I love to write, that living in grace is about self-mastery, and I love a bit of a challenge, then if I am truly going to let my heart lead, I really don't have any other choice. So scary as it feels, I'm starting out on a daily mission of leaning into the suggestions of this daybook and making a daily post to keep me accountable. If not now, then when?
I'm Josie. You can find out a little more about me here.
Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy: by Sarah Ban Breathnach.
This book is written for the Australian and NZ market because it refers to seasonal changes. It's available on Amazon here if you'd like to follow along.
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