Back In The Office

Back In The Office

During a regular weekly Zoom meeting with a writer-friend, we were discussing the recent adventure Dave and I are on and how it affected the office, production schedule and content creation for our blogs and YouTube channel. Both Phyllis and I were sharing the feeling of just plain being overwhelmed with having so much to do and feeling so far behind. 

The mind keeps cycling: "...where to start? Where to start?"

Phyllis and I keep each other both comforted and motivated, simply by meeting once per week and sharing. Speaking with her about my weekly woes and joys helps settle my whirling mind a little and she's helped pull me out of the downward cycle of depression more than once. (Thanks, Phyllis!!) 

The thing is that the "big picture" is loaded down with is such a large to-do list. From fencing and getting a lawn put in, to exterior painting, tons of office work, book publication schedules that were put on pause to accomodate this move.. plus several cherished visitors from out of town (which I'm looking forward to) and a long long list of other things that are sure to keep us on the edge of exhaustion. 

Looking at the big picture, then, can be a bit intimidating so my current aim is to write things that are more long term on a different mental page, and focus on today's page instead. I have been able to find just a couple hours per day to play "catch-up" on the office duties, but a lot can be done in a couple hours. As of this week, I can now dedicate almost a full day per week just for the office - which will help so very much. 

Where to start when there is so much to do?

It took 2 weeks after moving in just to get a mail key and almost 3 weeks for us to get the office connected (via service provider) and set up enough to do an email. It took a little longer than usual to connect the office because they had to drill into the home and run the wires, etc. 

...just because the wires were in and the internet set up, didn't mean we could get to our desks lol - moving boxes, boxes everywhere. 

These delays meant that the "first week in the office" began about a month after the move, and it had me addressing priorities such as making sure all the bills were paid, mail dealt with, receipts filed and getting the most demanding, online communications taken care of. 

The second priority involved communicating and reassuring people in our circles that we are doing OK, making sure that they had our new mailing address, and to adjust their expectations of us knowing that we will be settling into our "new" home for some time yet. 

In between this, we had to set up essential office equipment, sort cords, start charging batteries and ordering necessary supplies.

Here we are 42 days after the move in date and while we have made some headway on the to-do list, I can feel the strings of being overwhelmed start to tug at my consciousness once more. 

For one thing - the office is far from an easy environment to work in right now... a couple dozen moving boxes strewn about that we can't unpack yet, plus the 3 boxes under the desk - cramping my feet. The super-nice neighbours beside us have workmen replacing a back entrance and so there is this audio ambiance of drills and voices in the background from their respectful workers. The dogs are whining for attention, fussing about the activities next door, and the phone keeps pinging. ...Still here, working toward getting the business activities up and running. 

The current priority, which is - obviously - creating blog content, will be intermixed with ensuring that any meetings, webinars, student appointments etc. are both confirmed and marked in the daily planner. Then I will get alerts set up on my cell phone - I like to use this feature because it reminds me an event is coming up. 

* We are now open to blog content submissions and interview queries!

Outside of the office and studio work, over the last 42 days we have been busily settling in: setting up the teaching/repair studio/workshop, installing closet organizers, unpacking boxes and installing adhesive shelf liner to cupboards etc, getting curtains and window film on, installing bathroom accessories... raked, levelled and sowed lawn seed in a couple places, built a railing for the entry deck, put up a temporary fence for the dogs, started 4 (yes 4) compost piles and began cleaning up and caring for the property. 

...not much.   hahahaha

~~~   

Follow & Find Books: 

on Amazon

Visit: 

Drum It With Brummet Blog

Subscribe: 

Brummet Media​ YouTube Channel​ ​

~~~