Making a routine stick

It's hard for me to start a routine and make it stick. I tend to get caught up in something else, and forget what I was working on. This blog is no different. I find that calendar items and to do items seem to help, but even then I get sidetracked.
Importance of the task helps to keep me motivated. Asking, "How important is this to me?", helps me to stay focused. The act of dish washing is not very important to me, but preparing food in a clean kitchen is important. Enjoyment also helps. I enjoy swimming, cycling and running, so it is easier to get going to do those things. Having a goal also helps.
Specific goals do more good for me than general ones. The more specific I am, the better. Goals like "lose weight" do no good, but goals like "lose 10 pounds so that cycling up hills is easier", make a difference. Dates also add to the adherence factor.
Not everything routine is fun, but when I schedule, attach meaning, get specific and create a goal, tasks become empowering.

Day to day

The day to day is getting to me. I mean the daily activities that get old, but if not planned, don't get done. Laundry, dishes, cleanup, etc... I'm happy for todo items, but it would be cool if mine consisted of something more exciting than: "Mop bedroom".
I usually have to set a time limit to my tasks, so that I don't get carried away or distracted.
Twenty minutes in each room seems to work for me, if I am consistent. If I miss a day, things start to get out of whack. It takes me longer to do things, and I get distracted easily. Kids, specifically, four year-olds, don't help matters either. I don't think I am alone on this...

Family

I'm a lucky guy. I know this, because I have a wonderful family. They've stuck around despite all of my difficulties. Well, they aren't always wonderful, and everything isn't always sunny, but they are still here. That's the good thing about family. They tend to stick around.

Decisions

I have a hard time making a decision. Especially if it's for a spur of the moment thing. I know this about myself, so I try to do the first thing that feels right, and stick to it. When at a restaurant, I scan the menu, pick the first thing that catches my eye and close the menu. If I see specials posted somewhere, I might not even have to open a menu.
Deciding on a restaurant, however seems to be an issue for me, especially when there are other people involved. It's better if the decision is already made, but if people are looking to me for guidance, it could take a while.
This gets a bit frustrating when we all are hungry. My parents were in town this week, and there were a few times they were waiting on me to decide. Finally, my wife picked a spot. Sometimes that is the best way. Let someone else pick, and then enjoy the ride.

Black Friday = Red Saturday

I won't be going shopping today. If I did, I would be overwhelmed to the point of frustration. I think that's what was intended by the business world. Even a person who hasn't had a brain injury gets beat down by the possibility that if they don't shop today, they are missing out.
I won't be missing the crowds, childish adults, screaming kids, nor the mundane muzak. My kids won't watch as I push an old lady to the ground in an attempt to grab the last xyz electronic device. Instead, I slept in, made french toast and bacon, then went on a ride and run. Life is good.

Chicken Stock

Making chicken stock for the stuffing. Corn bread stuffing. Stock takes a while to make, but it's worth it on occasion. I'm wanting to go for a swim, but this is important. I've been saving chicken carcasses for the long simmering moment when added with water, vegetables, herbs, magical poultry mead results.
I put this on my calendar so as not to forget. I haven't been as consistent with my calendar as I would like. Workouts have not made it to home calendar. I have another workout planner for that. I guess I need to combine those somehow. It just seems like a lot of redundant typing and entering. There must be a solution somewhere.
Kids are still sleeping. Time to wakey-wakey, or late to bed tonight they will be. Stock is simmering, pool time.

Went for a ride after I dropped off Mia. Missed the rain, luckily. I've been considering getting a trainer since it will be raining more often. I went to the Guitar Center yesterday to return a strap I bought as a gift. There was a Sports Chalet next door, so I stopped in. So much stuff to look at!
I don't need a bunch of gadgets, but sometimes they sure can make things easier. I use an iPhone to keep track of things I need to do. It beeps at me when I need to do something. I tried a paper organizer, but I would always forget to use it. I sometimes forget even with the iPhone, but it is much easier.
The key is getting into a routine. I can remember to do things if they become part of my routine. New activities, or "to do" items that don't get scheduled, often don't happen. I'm trying to make posting to my blog a part of the routine, but it's a work in progress.