Re-Entry to the Real World

Don't hate me when I tell you that yesterday was my first day back to work. I admit to small (perhaps slightly smug-ish) smiles Sunday night when I saw all the lamenting on Facebook. No one wanted to go back to work, it seemed! I really was grateful for the extra day off work. Especially since I was SO LAZY over break that I still hadn't taken down my Christmas decorations! I think that is the first time in the history of my adult life that the decor has still been up when the new year hit. WOW.

This break was just that for me: a break. I didn't have plans. Honestly, other than Christmas day with the family and New Year's Eve with my friends, my calendar was blank when the vacation started. I threw in a few things along the way but for the most part, I just stayed home. Most days I didn't even get ready until late afternoon. I curled up on the couch in jammie pants with more cups of coffee than I dare to count, and just rested. I hadn't rested for months.

The downside to such a break is that I get terribly accustomed to all the free time. For me, it means extra hours to sit with my journal and Bible...extra time in prayer...extra time to read or take naps...and then when reality hits, I find myself scrambling. I fall back into the bad habits of rushing through my devotions, praying on the fly, staying up way too late to scratch everything off my to-do list, and then of course oversleeping the next morning (and consequently applying my makeup at work while my computer awakens). It's a vicious cycle.

So this year...I wouldn't go so far as to say it's a resolution or even a goal, but it's my hope that I will be careful to protect my time enough to continue what I've started in these first few days of the year. During the desert of 2010, I learned firsthand that moments (or hours) spent alone with the Lord are worth it. And while I have made a goal to re-enter life and embrace it with joy after months of solitude, I want to be sure I don't lose those sweet moments with my Abba.

So far, so good. I'm one for one on getting up on time and reading a bit in my Bible and devo book before I go to work. I'm one for one on a cup of coffee BEFORE the travel mug of it that gets me through the morning...and for putting on my makeup at home...and being early enough to the office that my computer has its full required 10 minutes to boot up BEFORE the work day actually begins. But the year is young. I'm sure I will oversleep. And lug the makeup to work again. And leave the bed a mess....

...so I'm not entirely sure how I plan to put this new plan into practice when the moments of chaos actually hit. If protecting your time is something you've become an expert at...please do share your secrets with me. I am open to suggestions!