Carly's Ramblings Blog - Style

Routines And Stuff....

30 Day Blogging Challenge

PROMPT January 10th
What are some of the routines you follow in your daily life? Do you typically stick to your routine, or do you prefer more spontaneity?

I tend to fall into routine quite well. I like to change things up on occasion, but even that has a pattern to it. I tried to set up a routine for the morning and evening with getting ready, but I was finding that moisturizing my face was bothering my eyes and making it hard for me to keep my eyes open so I have given it up in favour of finding a new routine once I am up for it... probably a variation on the old one.

I work with students who have special needs, autism in particular and routine is very important to them. I find it calms me as well. Our classroom day follows the same routine so the children and the staff know what to expect. It makes things run better that way. We build any changes in slowly... if we are able.

As for my writing, my preference is to work in cafes. I can write at home, but I like being out and about. Surrounded by the hum of others and the chance to people watch. Today I have chosen the library so that I don't spend so much money.... but our library does have a lovely café in it with good coffee and tea. The bonus with writing here is that I don't have to buy anything to be here and I do if I go to a café. Having already eaten too much today, I would prefer to not snack more.

I tend to buy the same things when I go out to cafes. I will on occasion try something new, but I like the old familiars.
I find even the people are more diverse in background and class here at the downtown Kitchener branch of the library. I went to an outlying branch that is attached to a high school which has an elementary school close by and the dynamic there was very different. More noisy with students talking to each other with headphones on... what's up with that. Any seniors seemed to know when to clear out for the day. There are also a few strange souls here at the downtown branch, but I find the library staff seems to check on them. They must be regulars. I overheard one staff ask a young man how he was doing today. Just a friendly check in.
The Kitchener branch also has the Police Station right behind so I feel safe here.

Even going to the downtown Waterloo library is different. It is smaller and I think it is more middle class oriented. That's just a feeling I get.

When I am at the library I tend to sit in the same area - along the edge of the balcony overlooking the main area with the café. It is a great place to people watch and it also offers a wonderful view of the street as the wall in front of me is a bank of floor to ceiling windows. I love this library.

I have wondered off topic. Routines.

Routines also help me stay on track. Getting in regular walks, meditating and stretching all improve if I work them into a routine. If I don't, I tend to not do them as often as I should.

With writing, I have a goal of writing 750 words a day. The website I do it on keeps track of my writing streak (currently at 190 days) and gives me stickers for my efforts. I don't have a routine time of doing my words, but I find I like taking a walk out and about to a café and then writing for a good while before walking back home. The walking helps me to work out story ideas and gets me out of the house and into the fresh air. Without that, particularly in the winter, I tend to get quite lethargic and feel like I am going stir crazy. Daily adventures help to keep me going. Where I go and what I do exactly is more spontaneous, but the routine of getting out is important. I don't want to stay home and slump around in my sweat pants on my days off. One day is fine, two... not so much.