Flex Time

Last week I couldn’t even get the sliding door to open. The freezing rain blew against its seal welding it shut with us inside.
Not what I had planned. Not what I was banking after a two-week break. With the family. Every day with the family. A trip to the coast, games of Bounce Off and Monopoly – hours of Monopoly – and  though it was fabulous and I do adore the people I live with, Monday was the day I was planning to go it alone. For a few hours. Just a few hours, people.
I had it all planned: They would go outside to their jobs and their classes and I would stay inside, working in my office. Alone.
Then Mother Nature did her thing. The first day of gentle snow and sledding was awesome and fun and I felt like Super Mom sliding down the hill on a plastic mat that was about as thick as a cracker. I didn’t even break when I slammed into the curb to stop. Go me! I did not, however, feel like Super Mom the next day.
Day two, freezing rain, iced-up roads and trees bowing under the pressure meant I wasn’t even walking out to get the paper. Day three = two-hour delay. Day four- buses on snow routes, which means we missed ours and I ended up slip-sliding my way to school to drop my daughter off, late.
Not the week I was planning, but not a bad one either. I mean none of this was a big deal. Still, it took me some time to adjust.
I have GOT to get better at at that — adapting when plans change.
I mean, they do. All of the time, right?  Plans change. That know-it-all Mother Nature never actually asks what I have in mind before she rains on my picnic or snows on my workday. Then people go and get sick and need a day at home and cars break down and must be dropped at the shop (surprise!). All that life stuff screws with my 9 to 5 which has very little wiggle room.
Scheduling Flex Time
One reason our holiday break was so relaxed and fun this year is because I didn’t keep to a firm schedule. I set a few things in stone, work mostly. But then we just adapted and flowed with whatever came up. Movies and cupboard cleaning and Monopoly. The flex schedule felt good. Until I had a long to-do list. Then, I felt pushed and pulled trying to fit it all in.
So I’m trying something new. An experiment of sorts. I’m going to build a little flex time into my daily calendar. Leave some open hours and moments. Make room, for whatever.
Perhaps I’ll fill the time with writing or by saying ‘yes’ to a client’s rush job. Maybe I’ll run a quick errand, take a long lunch break or listen to Serial. All I know, is I’m not planning anything, so I’m ready for everything.
It doesn’t feel like the easiest thing though, I do like my schedule. But I think a little practice in adaptation will be good. It leaves me open to some grand possibilities.