It has happened twice this past week. Maybe you’ve noticed, but probably I’m presuming too much. Last Sunday and Thursday past, there were no posts on this blog. Both days a post was cued up and ready for me to hit the “publish” button, but other things interfered. To get a sense of this you need to realize that my blog posts are always ready to go by 6:00 a.m. By that point I’ve been awake for a minimum of two hours and have already lined up my initial thoughts for the day. I also realize that many other people are not awake yet. Since my blog posts feed out to Twitter I worry (rightly) that a tweet so early will be dismissed along with other early morning bird calls. I load up my post and wait.
In an abundance of caution, I begin my job at 6:30. The reason is clear enough—I was let go from two jobs after being told I was doing great. I don’t want that to happen again. I’m one of those people whose best time is the morning. I’m aware this is unusual, bordering on the freakish. I have come to a compromise—I push the publish button just before I start work. When I began working remotely (I was ahead of the curve, for once), I knew we’d need a house with a dedicated office. That office is upstairs and is reserved for work. My creative writing is done downstairs. Since I go upstairs before actually starting work to settle in, I need to remember to click “publish” before I read the first work email of the day. If I don’t, Thursday happens. (It very nearly happened again yesterday!)
What about Sunday, did I hear you ask (in my imagination)? Fair question. Weekends I try to hold out until after 7:00 (so late!) or later to post. But on Sunday I’m in charge of the adult education program in my faith tradition. I schedule and run the Zoom meeting. Since that program is early, I need to be ready early. By 6:00 a.m. on Sunday my post was loaded. Many Sundays, however, are about as busy as a workday although it’s all volunteer work. I awoke Monday morning and found Sunday’s post still in the dock. The world has been spared my musings for a day. Ironically, WordPress had been sending daily streak messages “You’re on a streak!” My streak struck out on Sunday, and again on Thursday. Maybe it’s time for a new routine.
