My Brain & Around the World Destination
Focusing. Fitting things in. Following a schedule.
I want to live in the moment, to fully engage with what is going on around me, to listen intently, and enjoy the journey. Do you know what I've discovered though? My brain is almost constantly in the background scurrying around like a one-armed switchboard operator. I notice it most often on Sundays when I'm sitting in church and I'm conscious about paying attention and not letting my mind wander.
Another time it's very obvious is when I'm trying to go to sleep. Each night I make a list of five things I need to do the next day because studies have shown that helps your subconscious mind prepare while you're asleep and you'll wake up ready to go. Sometimes on Sunday night though, my brain wants to get to work right away and won't shut off. (This probably has something to do with me not doing Internet or writing work on Sundays, and therefore having a long list each Monday.)
Last night went something like this:
(Me): I'm going to go to sleep now. (My brain): But what about all you have to do tomorrow morning, don't you want to start on your list tonight? No, I can't start on it tonight, it's late... I'm going to sleep. That's what you think. Do you realize your list is waayyy too long though? Think through it! There's no way you're going to get everything done before your meeting at work if you don't get up earlier. You have to be at work by 8:00.That's right and it's late; I'm already missing out on sleep. I wanted to be in bed by 10:30.Ah yes, but think of everything you need to do before that. Devotions. Getting ready for the day. Breakfast? (Can't forget about that.) Blogging. Laundry. Work emails. And you are going to take a walk, right? You can take a power nap later in the day if you need it. Get up earlier. Okay, okay! *pulls out phone and sets alarm for 45 minutes earlier*Good move. But hey, before you go to sleep let's figure out how we're going to fit everything in. No thank you.First off you have to get seven hours of writing work in and also four hours of your non-writing job. Oh, and make banana bread. And take a walk (did we already mention that walk? Make sure you don't forget it now, you know it makes you feel better). You're probably supposed to make lunch and possibly supper. And you need to read for an hour. This is overwhelming. Maybe I should just start on my list tonight... Good news! Some of that work can actually be doubled up. See, some of that "writing work" is actually audio you can listen to. Yay. Okay, I can listen to the audio while I'm taking a walk. No, no, no. You listen to the audio when you're making the banana bread and cooking. You read while you're walking. It's a lot harder to read while cooking than walking.Good point. Now I'm going to sleep. But wait! It's almost midnight. As soon as it's midnight you can check your emails and you'll be that far ahead. Good night. And did I mention that..?Good night.
As annoying as it can be when I need to focus in church or fall asleep quickly, I am actually very thankful for my brain and the way it works. Each task I have to do is like an odd-shaped piece that I'm trying to fit just perfectly into my life. Being able to think and reason through all of it and come up with the most efficient ways to work is a gift I'm thankful for.
What about you? Does your brain work like that, too?
* * *
It's that time again where we get to choose where Annie goes for this week in our Friday Series, Around the World in Fifty-Two Weeks. And the destination is... Falkland Islands! (Yeah, I'd never heard of them, either. :)
I want to live in the moment, to fully engage with what is going on around me, to listen intently, and enjoy the journey. Do you know what I've discovered though? My brain is almost constantly in the background scurrying around like a one-armed switchboard operator. I notice it most often on Sundays when I'm sitting in church and I'm conscious about paying attention and not letting my mind wander.
Another time it's very obvious is when I'm trying to go to sleep. Each night I make a list of five things I need to do the next day because studies have shown that helps your subconscious mind prepare while you're asleep and you'll wake up ready to go. Sometimes on Sunday night though, my brain wants to get to work right away and won't shut off. (This probably has something to do with me not doing Internet or writing work on Sundays, and therefore having a long list each Monday.)
Last night went something like this:
(Me): I'm going to go to sleep now. (My brain): But what about all you have to do tomorrow morning, don't you want to start on your list tonight? No, I can't start on it tonight, it's late... I'm going to sleep. That's what you think. Do you realize your list is waayyy too long though? Think through it! There's no way you're going to get everything done before your meeting at work if you don't get up earlier. You have to be at work by 8:00.That's right and it's late; I'm already missing out on sleep. I wanted to be in bed by 10:30.Ah yes, but think of everything you need to do before that. Devotions. Getting ready for the day. Breakfast? (Can't forget about that.) Blogging. Laundry. Work emails. And you are going to take a walk, right? You can take a power nap later in the day if you need it. Get up earlier. Okay, okay! *pulls out phone and sets alarm for 45 minutes earlier*Good move. But hey, before you go to sleep let's figure out how we're going to fit everything in. No thank you.First off you have to get seven hours of writing work in and also four hours of your non-writing job. Oh, and make banana bread. And take a walk (did we already mention that walk? Make sure you don't forget it now, you know it makes you feel better). You're probably supposed to make lunch and possibly supper. And you need to read for an hour. This is overwhelming. Maybe I should just start on my list tonight... Good news! Some of that work can actually be doubled up. See, some of that "writing work" is actually audio you can listen to. Yay. Okay, I can listen to the audio while I'm taking a walk. No, no, no. You listen to the audio when you're making the banana bread and cooking. You read while you're walking. It's a lot harder to read while cooking than walking.Good point. Now I'm going to sleep. But wait! It's almost midnight. As soon as it's midnight you can check your emails and you'll be that far ahead. Good night. And did I mention that..?Good night.
As annoying as it can be when I need to focus in church or fall asleep quickly, I am actually very thankful for my brain and the way it works. Each task I have to do is like an odd-shaped piece that I'm trying to fit just perfectly into my life. Being able to think and reason through all of it and come up with the most efficient ways to work is a gift I'm thankful for.
What about you? Does your brain work like that, too?
* * *
It's that time again where we get to choose where Annie goes for this week in our Friday Series, Around the World in Fifty-Two Weeks. And the destination is... Falkland Islands! (Yeah, I'd never heard of them, either. :)
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