Recently I've been relaxing. A lot. Not the "couch potato", "sitting around" kind of relaxing most may be used to. I'm referring to the more interesting variety, the Chill Pill method.
The title of this essay assumes I'll rant on about this situation I've got, and I will. First I'd like to address the Good Things. Taking a Chill Pill ("the Pill") has effected change in a number of areas in my life. Let's review.
Work
The most improved area of my life is my work. Just like most of us I'm asked to put in a solid 7.4 hours a day, minimum, to work a full-time week. Also like most of us I was constantly paranoid about my job which lead to highly defensive stances on points of little substance. When I took the Pill I decided not to worry about it, to do my job the best I could, and to enjoy doing it. This has increased my level of happiness vastly, which in turn has increased my output.
Home
I used to be a tired wreck when I arrived home after work. I think this was largely due to the emotional way I conducted myself there. After the Pill things have been different. I recently took up cleaning as an evening hobby. While Chastity feeds the baby or gets our kids washed up I clean the living room and wash the dishes. Cleaning is very euphoric, and a nice way to wind down at the end of a day.
The practice of cleaning my home at night has effected change in my mornings. With clothes put away at night, waking up to my bedroom is not so terrible. The day greets me with freshness and a crisp morning glow instead of a pile of junk here and there, or laundry to do.
Scheduling
As a result of the changes in Work and Home, my schedule has been effected. I'm waking up around seven consistently, and at work between nine and ten in the morning. This means I come home at an expected time, around 6:30 in the evening. I have the evening to do as I please, usually eating and playing with children, then cleaning when they're getting ready for bed. This gives Chastity and I enough time to read before we go to sleep around eleven.
Family
A good book says "order brings peace." It's right. My day is very peaceful. Structure in my life has changed the lives of my family as well. I get to see my daughter every day instead of hit-or-miss, for example. My wife doesn't have such a burden around the house because I help her out when I get home.
Eating
As it turns out, having a schedule and a less frantic family helps with nutrition. I have time for breakfast in the morning. Because I'm getting home form work at a reasonably predictable time Chastity can make dinner for us all at once (and she's a good cook).
Other Work
Now that I'm not living moment to moment, I have time for things I enjoy. I have time to write, time to have picnics with my daughter in the front lawn, time to goof.
Problems
I mentioned I'd talk about the problems. There is only one that I've noticed so far. When you slow down and enjoy life everyone else seems to speed up out of control. So in the end you feel good but the urge to cut your head off and flap about like a chicken is strong. Resist that urge and I think you'll be happy. I am.
Posted from caseywest.com, comment here.
