A Day of Being All Over the Place

I hope August has been kind to you so far. For me, August tends to arrive with a particular kind of quiet at work. It is usually a slow month, so slow in fact that it feels a little like torture. When there is less to do, my mind begins to drift through time. I flit between memories, plans, and scenarios. That restless wandering is probably the main reason I am all over the place, although it is certainly not the only reason. My interests are as wide as my ambitions, so there is always a new idea tugging at my attention. I have to say, though, give me an unimportant task over nothing at all and I will take it gladly.

While the sun is up

After a quick self care routine, I sit at my desk and boot up my PC. I work as a language acquisition specialist, a copywriter and editor, and a feedback consultant. In practice, that means most of my day is spent helping people find better ways to do what they do. Lately, there's been a lot of "First of all, I won't review AI-generated content; if you want me to help you, do your own work first", though. It's sad, but there's a few times a day when I see the wheels start turning in my student's/client's mind and I realize it's still worth it. I also realized that, although accidentally, I often end up working a regular nine to five schedule. Who would have thought?

Between projects, I check in on my family, review the progress of several personal projects, and make sure my pets' cuteness levels are within parameters. I have two cats and a dog, by the way, and their cuteness levels are, objectively, optimal. When projects allow, I update my cheat sheets and templates. These are the small time-saving documents I build for myself so I do not repeat the same work twice and so I can capture the small lessons that matter. I also jot down client preferences and notes so the next session goes even smoother. I don't actually take breaks, but I sneak out when I can in order to get a snack (or an actual meal sometimes). Working from home has allowed me to give myself those small comforts throughout the day, and I appreciate it greatly.

The twilight hours

Once the work block is done, I move into the self-improvement and actually-living parts of my schedule. Typically, that includes a gym session, a few household chores, and some study/homework (I already got a Master's in my field, but I decided to go for a BSc and possibly a MSc until the right circumstances come for me to get my PhD, so I'm back in school, I guess). I do a couple of hours of gaming after that; sometimes it's clearing boss after boss with special ops levels of precision and sometimes it's Leroy Jenkins-ing our way through. After that, I absolutely must spend some quality time with the family, although we tend to fall into a doomscrolling rabbit hole together. By the time I finish everything, it is often past midnight, and I let the warm embrace of my red blanket carry me into the next day.

Throughout the day, I have recurring thoughts about how past choices and chances led me to where I am now. I also imagine future goals and projects. Those thoughts used to feel heavy and hostile, but over time they have softened. What felt at first like angry commands has become a calmer, kinder conversation with myself. I am also grateful for all the effort, help, and progress that have led me to this point. 

Mandatory Bullet Point List

Here are a few small habits that keep me moving forward even when work is slow:

• Make note of all the things I want to look into, practice, or learn (usually in Excel).

• Check up on my family (or as they say, bug them every hour or so).

• Look up media for my endless list and forget about it for 1.75 years.

• Hyperfocus on automating some easy-to-do-manually task on Excel.

• Check my older lists and see what I can move forward with.

I know these don't look great, but they actually help me stay rather focused and productive when needed, and not falling into the abyss the rest of the time.

Building this blog and thinking out loud

One of my current projects is organizing this blog and slowly filling it with posts. I love the idea of writing small, useful pieces that someone else can read in ten minutes and walk away with a tool or an insight. My plan is to post on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, and to give each day a theme. I've been thinking about some, like Work, Gaming, Reflections, and Collabs. Focusing on that last one, I have decided to take on small requests for writing or reviewing content, so go ahead and leave your comment; I'll be happy to help you!

Lastly, I just want to say, if you are reading this as part of this new dopamine-seeking behavior: thank you. Your attention is a gift, and the small act of reading makes this slow August feel less empty. Life is rarely neat, and my days reflect that. They contain little joys and big responsibilities, and a world of discovery if you're willing to look up. As for me, I am learning to accept this wandering mind as part of the map, and to let it enrich my life rather than deplete it.

What does your day-to-day look like, by the way? I would love to read about it.