Dec 16 2007
Getting Back into a Routine is Tough
I’m back in Canada and have been for a few days now. I’ve had lots of time to post and work on my sites, but have I? A big fat NO is the answer to that question.
Despite my love of wandering around without any plans or commitments, I really am a bit of a creature of habit. I’ve been working really hard over the past few months in London largely because I’ve had a quiet place to work and was in a routine. Here in Canada I don’t really have an office type space and I’ve found it hard to concentrate. It’s 10:15pm and my parents are asleep and this is the first real chance I’ve had to get some work done.
I’m working from the kitchen table at the moment which isn’t ideal. I might have to clear a space in the basement to hide myself away in for a few hours a day because this isn’t cutting it! Too much going on around me and the fridge is too close and seems to be raided often by me.
I’m going to have to address both of these issues once I start travelling so I might as well try to get used to it before I go. I doubt I’ll ever have anything that resembles a desk until I get an apartment in China and I think there will always be distractions around me no matter where I am.
So just a heads up that I’m doing my best to get back into a routine. I think I underestimated how difficult that might be. I guess I just assumed that once I’m no longer working I’ll have loads of time to work on my sites. The reality is that I’m easily distracted and if I can’t learn to deal with working in less than ideal situations then I’ll be pretty screwed!
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I've been travelling since January 2008 living off earnings from the web. Follow me as I bum around Asia and beyond, getting up to mischief and working online as I go.
Good to see you made it home safely
I would cut your self some slack & enjoy the time with your family you will have all the time you need in the foreseeable future.
I have been playing with my new toy a Lenovo 3000 Y410 My first few trips introduced me to the world of wireless true to character I then spent a few days trying to figure it out & increase the range & # of conections I could obtain after a few purchases & returns I ended up with a Wireless-N USB Network Adapter Wireless Networking at Up To 4X the Range and 12X the Speed!
The above is only obtained if you are pulling from a N Router but Improvement is noticeable even on older routers & systems with a little more research I came across a whole bunch of info, On increasing your range with a few simple tricks & kitchen utensils, usefull if you will be parked in one spot for a period just type “diy wireless antenna” in to google.
My last trip highlighted the fact I cant see nothin outside so some sort of antiglare thing is needed next. Personaly I have enjoyed working away from my home & office & have been impressed with all I can do whilst sittin in a pub or coffeshop using easyphp & a few other tricks the idea of been able to kill two birds with one stone “get out of the house & be a little productive” Is definitely a plus.
Speaking of routines… when I was writing on the road I changed bedrooms, desks and villages nearly every day. That played havoc with any kind of writing routine. So I had to come up with some creative ideas. Here are some of the things I did:
- I started work with a specific action: check my To Do list
- I worked at the same time every day, no matter where I was - I started at 10am and stopped at noon, no matter what - the afternoon was for interviews
- I set up my working space identically, wherever I was: computer in the middle, small photo of family on the left, green tin mug on the right
- I meditated just before I started working (and if you don’t meditate, then playing a specific song or pouring yourself a drink will work equally well - as long as it’s the same each day)
- I ended my work with a specific action: write my To Do list for tomorrow
I don’t know if any of these ideas is helpful but they did help me focus when I was constantly on the go!
Nice Tips Scribetrotter & your site looks great also
Take some time off until at least Christmas and NY is over setting some goals for the new year and what you want to achieve.
When I came home last year I started creating sites on my hometown Melbourne, but my heart really wasn’t in it. I think it is important to take time thinking about what you want to do next rather than rushing into your next project.
It can be a good idea though to tidy up your existing sites and try to consolidate and automate everything as much as possible.
definately chill with the still and enjoy being home
Thanks for all the tips. Scribe I think setting up an office space everywhere I go is the sort of thing that will help me. Think I’ll skip the meditation though and pour myself a stiff drink each time instead.
Mike I know I should tidy and automate, really I do. Will I do it? Probably not. Why? I have no idea! haha It’s those sorts of things that seem to fall by the wayside with me. I aim to get it dome someday though.
Yeah, I found that on my spain trip I went from “oh man i need to get on the internet now” the first week to “ugh, computers” by the end of it. It will definitely take a bit more effort on the road, but you’re a hard worker so you’ll make it happen, especially when there’s a paycheck waiting in return!