My magnum opus: a clean kitchen counter

Mostly, you take care of succulents by leaving them alone. (Image by Milada Vigerova)

I had an agenda for the summer.

Of course, I had already given up on my usual summer agenda of traveling, visiting family, and having a lighter workload than usual due to school being out. So, my new agenda accounted for the coronavirus restrictions and complications and mandated a season of creative work. I planned for a high output, taking advantage of plenty of free time.

That didn’t happen. Even though I have the time, taking care of immediate concerns consumes most of my energy, leaving little left over for more work.

But just as we might be full and still have room for dessert, I find that I have the energy for non-work tasks and projects, some of which are just as important as work-related ones. Some of these, I’ve been putting off for quite some time. Accomplishing each one, no matter how minor, generates good feelings and restores a sense of well-being.

I bought a second salt shaker for the table, so that the first one could stay in the kitchen instead of going back and forth. I lost five pounds. I sent a birthday card to a friend.

As the days go by, I fold all the laundry and do all the dishes. I close the windows before it gets hot and open them again when it starts to get cool. I sign the paperwork and pay the bills.

When I can look up and glance at a clutter-free coffee table, it eases my mind. When all the pants on the shelf fit me, it’s one less thing to worry about. When I get in the truck and it already has gas in it, I feel like everything is taken care of. These little things make a big difference when you add them all up.

Taking care of these necessities actually becomes soothing in itself. These everyday activities bring comfort not only due to their direct results, but also because of the positive associations that develop based on those results. Simple chores turn into rituals that bring peace of mind.

I’ve always been used to a more dynamic lifestyle, and I tend to eschew routine. It’s boring. I tend to prioritize novelty and fresh challenges. For instance, I thought I was going to publish three videos a week this summer. Instead, I’ve made one that will probably never see the light of day. Guess what: How I thought things were going to go is not how they ended up going. I’m used to that by now, aren’t you?

So I will do the things that have got to get done so that I don’t let someone else down. I will be sure, also, to do the things that no one else will notice but matter for me over time: taking my vitamins, getting a good night’s sleep, and sorting through the mail. It’s not really how I thought I would spend a global pandemic, but these quotidian things bring normalcy and calm to a chaotic time. As a result, I can do my more challenging work, in moderate doses, without being totally overwhelmed. Day by day, I can get through this.

What about you? What rituals and practices are helping you to manage your energy? What’s working? Please let me know in the comments.