Work smarter, not harder

 

It's getting to be that time of year again - time to return to classes.  A lot has gone on during the summer.  I've gotten engaged, and my fiancé has taken on a position in a new program at work which will have him back working from home taking voice calls again for half of the week.  A lot is up in the air, though.  We don't know what his actual schedule will be, if it will be something consistent or vary day-to-day, or even when he might get a day off.  And, while I'm still teaching from home for another semester, there's a lot of uncertainty about the delta variant of Covid and what the rising positivity rates will mean in the next few months.  So much uncertainty doesn't set well with either of us.  And, our stress levels are through the roof.  

For me, one way to deal with this is to exert some sort of control over my immediate space.  So, I always spend a day or so organizing and cleaning in preparation for the new semester.  And, of course that means new school supplies!  I haven't settled on a replacement for my 20-year-old home office desk chair yet; but, I did invest in a cart to make my life a little easier.  It seemed silly to spend $30 and to add something else to our space, but after some reflection I figured it was worth the investment.  Since he'll be at home some, I won't be able to do meetings and office hours in the office - too much noice for us to hear who we're talking to.  And, I hated having everything laying across the breakfast bar in the living room cluttering up the space each day.  I also remember numerous times I'd be frustrated about having to relocate and inevitably forgetting something (or lots of somethings) in the office.  This silly little cart will help me keep it all together, move easily between workspaces, and allow me to hide my work away later in the office at the end of the day so that the living room can be a place of sanity and serenity.  

So, my advice to you this week is to "work smarter, not harder".  Take some time to think about what might make your life a little easier.  Would it be more helpful to have the vacuum in the living room closet rather than the kitchen closet? What about keeping a list of dinner options on the fridge for easy reference?  Would spending a little extra money on a planner that you love and would use regularly help you stay better organized? What simple little change can you make that would make your life easier?  Find one little thing and implement it today.  You may find it helps you be just a little less stressed.