Routines

Today marks two weeks since I've officially started my days as an unemployed person. Though my company forced me into retirement, I consider myself to be only temporarily retired, as I can see myself working again.

Doing what, who knows?

Since I stopped working, however, I haven't stopped being productive. If you're a regular reader of my blog (first, thank you!), you'll know that I've started writing a murder mystery. To that end, my weekday routine hasn't changed: I get up at the same time, get showered and dressed, have breakfast, and sit down at the same desk that I occupied while working—only the computer has changed.

I tend to work on my book until 4 or 5, but sometimes go longer. I may not spend all of that time writing and I sometimes become distracted by unrelated things, but I sit at my desk nevertheless.

If I hit a snag in the story and feel the need to take a break, I'll often write several blog posts in advance. (This one was written last Thursday.)

As much as I think it's important to keep writing, I feel that I shouldn't necessarily stay at the desk when I'm not. There are other things that I want to pursue in this temporary retirement and I don't have to wait until the evenings and weekends.

I want to practice using my drone. Now, as soon as I said this the last time, the weather turned nasty with snow and strong winds. My drone weighs only 135 grams, so it doesn't like the wind. But I can't predict the wind for our upcoming vacation, so I should just suck it up and get outside with it, learn how to fly it in windy conditions so that it'll be easy when the wind is calm.

I want to start exercising more. In the past, I'd get on my spin bike or road bike after work, but I can do that anytime. I'd like to make it a lunch-hour routine, so that it gives me a break from my morning writing. And with only a couple of weeks until our vacation, I really need to get in shape, pronto.

There's a lot of hiking and climbing at high elevations, so the more fit I am, the better.

I've really neglected my photography, and one thing that I told myself when I looked ahead to full retirement—initially, in three years—I told myself I'd be out with my camera more, that I'd perhaps set up a side gig where I shoot headshots, and that I'd try to sell more of my images.

With so much time on my hands, I haven't pursued one of my greatest passions, and that's sad.

So, starting now, I'm going to set up some routines. They won't be carved into stone, as I have to be flexible for the weather. But I'm no longer going to sit on my arse from 9 to 5 like I did when I was paid to do so.

Stay tuned.