lying low

If my blog comments are an indication, I'm not the only one who finds it is very difficult to "lie low" these days.  If we don't quickly reply to emails, texts, and have a passing understanding of the latest news, trends, scandals, etc., people get concerned.   It's as if there is a vacuum that holds us all against the lighted screens.  

Much to their dismay, people with my cell phone number can confirm that I often leave it at home!    Between editing pictures, writing patterns, and searching for genealogy clues, sitting at the computer is more challenging..  However, once I can pull myself far enough away from screens to focus on real things, priorities realign in a way that allows tight muscles to relax.  There's nothing revolutionary, but here's what works for me.  

-I turn off the sound on my cell phone, and leave it on a short wall where it can be plugged in to charge.  When it is silent, I can sometimes hear it buzz, but it isn't demanding.  I usually leave my phone there, and I seldom lose it.

-I check my email, but then I close the tab, window or app.  Sometimes I don't check it for several hours, and I log out of Facebook for days.  If I'm folding laundry, I'm folding laundry.  I have never had an emergency, dire or otherwise, that couldn't have been prevented with a little extra thinking, but would have been prevented if I answered after the first ding.  Sometimes I watch Netflix while I do menial tasks; sometimes I read a digital pattern, but everything with alerts is off.  I read paper books; no interrupting alerts!

-I'm using Instagram differently.  I go to IG to kill time.  I.e. when I'm waiting for a kid in the car or at the dentist.  I like to see my favorite decorators, knitters and quilters have new posts; it makes it more entertaining to wait a little longer than I expected to.  I have other time and sources for getting twisted up about social issues and world crises, so I have changed who I follow on Instagram. 

-One routine I'm getting back to is planning meals ahead.  When I go to the store once in one or two weeks I get more out of my time and money, and I avoid the desperation of buying fast food.  Eating dinner as a family, sitting at the table, maximizes the time we have to spend together.  The difference in my own state of mind, and the people around me, is obvious.  Already having the food in the house means I can ensure that happens.  Writing the menu on a little chalk board means ingredients don't get snacked on and there is less complaining about tonight's dinner when my kids can see that their favorite meals are coming up.  Knowing what I'm going to do for dinner also makes it easier to invite guests.

-Having written goals gives me the opportunity to be intentional about how I spend my time.  I have to revisit them regularly but seeing what I'm working toward makes it easier for me to let go of the less important opportunities.

-I put things on my calendar that I really want to do, instead of keeping them on my mental list.

-Probably the most challenging thing for me is committing to daily or weekly routines, and committing to saying no to hot or sudden opportunities.  Dates have popped up in my email, like photo meet-ups for this weekend - reply now!  I would enjoy the artistic process but it may come with self-doubt, group snark, or an inconvenient time/location.  Sometimes it is worth the trade-off, but I have already decided, not this month.  I have already committed to, paid for, am responsible for, and enjoy plenty of amazing things - like my own blog.  Saying no immediately to superfluous opportunities allows room for people and relationships, since when I see a friend in need, there is often space for people.  I can see in the attitudes of my husband and kids that me leaving this space in my calendar makes it much easier for the whole household to work better.

This week, I committed to a lot more barre.  I sleep so much better when I move and stretch!  When I'm there, I think about the pain of planks, and my mind gets a much-needed reset from other people's problems.  I meant to type 'rest' but actually, 'reset' also works.  

I avoid what I can in the evenings from other people's agendas, and try to spend more time at home, because it's cold, and it's dinner time!  It's not always possible, but it's more possible when I make an effort.

-I would be remiss if I didn't mention, I pray a lot.  Not as much as my grandma, but more and more.  If something is really weighing on me, there is no better solution than to get down on my knees. 

On the craft front, I spent some time at the end of December and beginning of January to sort out some projects that are ready for next steps - sweater quantity of yarn, a stack of flannel and denim squares ready to be sewn into a throw quilt.  It will have to be done again, but it's easier to grab things for a knitting meet-up, now.  The things I have committed to knit on commission are all relatively easy without hard deadlines. In the fall, I may be excited for some fancy projects; for now, I'm keeping my fingers nimble and my mind restful. 

A new-ish friend with a super cute house agreed to come over and walk through my house with me.  She was pretty ruthless in pointing out things I'm not using, not using well, don't need or don't fit the aesthetic I presented at the beginning.  She was right about almost all of it.  I have some work to do.  I have a lot of things in my house that no longer belong here, and many fun things that are waiting to be used, finished, shared.

Alright.  I hope this post is helpful and gives you some ideas to make your own life flow along under the current of today's angry mobs and super-viruses.  (There were also questions about the blanket I'm knitting.  I'll write more about that in another post; this one is already pretty long!)  If you have suggestions or ways that you simplify, I would love to hear them!