The forthcoming tips come from a journal entry from last week. Its fun to flip through a soft leather pocket-sized volume, reading bits in juicy blue fountain pen hand. I adore fountain pens, the quill gliding, feeling the shining liquid ink absorb into the paper. I relish writing in cursive, something Israelis find perplexing. Creating loop upon look feels a little like drawing, doesn’t it? They don’t write that way here, the boxy Hebrew characters aren’t built for it. Though everyone is fluent in English, they cannot read our connective writing. Shame.
In any case, a few facts.
1) I’m writing this post on my kindle fire – a used new-to-me model given me by my mother incredibly thoughtful sister, which despite its first-generation-ness, has really improved the quality of my life. It’s a rudimentary tablet, and I have access to wifi like a smart phone, something I don’t have as its very expensive here. Though clunky, its so nice to have a browser and books (of which I’ve read a few) and newspapers (I read the Herald Tribune daily) and apps, though usually its just a few card games I use to distract myself to blow off steam. There is no camera and no mic so Skype and photos aren’t relevant. However I just downloaded this mobile wordpress app, seems easy to use, and here I am, writing! Brilliant. Thank you Ashley!
2) The following are guidelines I created for myself, very straightforward, things I know will vastly improve my daily existence. The moment by moment breathing in and out getting out of bed and being functional and happy kind of existence. The physical that should improve the metaphysical. Underneath the funky bookishness, I’m just an ordinary schmo. I’m very messy and unraveled at the edges. These are my goals. Maybe you guys would find some benefit too from reading this. Or at least you can check up on me. Or ask me out. Or publish my novel. Or do my dishes. Whatever floats your boat.
- Get 8 hours of sleep every night, preferably turning in before midnight.
- Drink 8 glasses of water per day.
- Create a daily work checklist and stick to it.
- Don’t dare to think about work after work, and really create a line, even if and when overtime is required.
- Always be reading a book.
- Read the newspaper every day.
- Attend or participate in (at least) one cultural activity per week, whether it be a night at the opera or digging out the colored pencils for a fun sketch fest at home.
- See friends twice per week or more.
- Write, blog, or otherwise work with words in some way every day.
- Clean something every day and maintain a clean (ish) home – i.e. sweeping, dishes, cat box, laundry, gardening, general tidying.
- Pay bills/rent/vaad bayit on time.
- Cook and generally eat healthy meals (and eat with people preferably), not in front of the computer or TV.
- Go to yoga once per week if not more.
- Go on one date per week.
How hard is this? Very hard! Well, not really, but really. It takes some self-conscious effort. Nothing on the list is difficult. Well, not too difficult – the cleaning is not easy for me. But doing every single thing, or at least many of them — that is discipline. I do some of these things, sometimes, and somehow I manage. I imagine if I could accomplish these tasks, and maintained it, my life would be less stressed and far more fulfilling. How often do I lose sleep over timing, running to keep up on deadlines, avoiding the disgusting kitchen sink, feeling guilty guilty guilty. The stress is physically and mentally unhealthy. So, while easier said than done, I must attempt this everyday Everest.
What do you think? Do you have a regimen? Any tips?
Irène Sharon Hodes 