Most monastic communities have a daily routine (Horarium, ho-RAR-ium) which is strictly adhered to. I have some time management issues. They stem from difficulty regulating focus. If I’m engaged in an idea, I get to it right off, and don’t stop until the dogs act up or the bathroom calls. The result of this habit is that I get all the cool stuff done, but I forget to eat, then end up eating junk food, bills go unpaid, chores don’t happen. So, it’s an issue. I’m going to (attempt to) implement a routine, I’m sure it will need tweaking, but here’s my first go round.
| 7A | Tend animals, shovel snow or walk the garden. |
| 8A | Breakfast, news, blog |
| 9 | Clerical work and once/week errands |
| 11 | Clean, tend plants |
| Noon | Lunch |
| 1230P | Contemplative activity/exercise |
| 2P | Manual labor & design, dog activities |
| 6P | Tend animals, eat dinner |
| 7P | Music/Art |
| 10P | Read |
| 11P | Retire |
UPDATE about a week later…
Wow, the strict schedule worked great for two days out of the past seven. Integrated into my monastic routine are four rescue dogs, two starlings (and, now, a rescue canary). These guys have needs. Like potty, like right now I am going to get into things I should not be nosing in, like pester the other animal. This is substantially more disruptive than I anticipated, but truly, which is more important: The schedule or supporting the creatures that I take in as a function of my greater good? And so the small sacrifice of augmenting my routine to appreciate and assist the critters really isn’t much of a sacrifice at all.
My business causes some disruptions, too. I am generally on call to answer questions, and to corral product development efforts via the internet and phone. There was some of that. I need to keep the business running strong to keep my crew employed and fund this monastic endeavor, so I cannot neglect this.
None the less, the schedule serving more as a guide than a dictum has helped keep a rhythm here, and keep me focused on my intention.
Some adjustments that I can see making are scheduling in experiential time with the dogs, birds, and plants. Close interaction enriches my appreciation of their nature, and in a way, serves as a sort of community that appreciates what I am trying to do. Honestly, when I take a break and read in the aviary for half an hour and one of the starlings decides to sit on my head and poke around my hair (hopefully she isn’t actually finding bugs!), I feel charged up and validated. I suppose it’s a sort of communion for this animist.