Tag: adapting to change

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Adapting to Change: The Importance of Scheduling in Recovery

Written December 19, 2024

Hello Dear Readers,

I’m all out of sorts today.  My wife has to go to a physical inventory Audit. She must go to the warehouse with an accountant to audit inventory yearly. So we’ve shifted our typical Thursday pasta meal and our BBQ Friday meal days. 

Here’s the thing: I have to adjust my schedule if anything changes. I typically create my daily schedule to work as efficiently as possible. There is something important you are taught at the rehabilitation center: having a solid schedule is one of them. We may still feel we have recovered completely, but that may not be true. Then, you may not notice that you forgot them. So, I also have a routine schedule linked to each other so that I don’t forget to do so.

My wife gradually delegated more of her tasks. I do much more tasks now than 5 years ago. I have inherited as much as possible if I can do it. For example, the yard work. Until 5 years ago, my wife used to do it. She used to do all the choirs in the house between her work. Gradually, I relearned more things to do. Scheduling those tasks helps me not forget to do them within the time I have to do them. Over time, I rearrange my routines, such as running or yard schedules, to fit into my exercise or journaling schedules. The more tasks I inherit, the more time my wife has. So, I try to inherit more of her tasks. 

I have adjusted to this seemingly small change for this Thursday and still complete my Normal Thursday chores. I believe I’ve done so, but so many of the steps in my process are linked to previous ones that changing one increases the risk of cascading as I lose the triggers for the next chore step.  Even with things a bit out of order, I’ve managed to backtrack to pick up the dropped pieces.  

I was not much of a planner before the brain stroke. I know scheduling is very important because I forget otherwise. 

I’ll need to do more anomalous things tomorrow, but it shouldn’t be too difficult. I’ll just have to keep running through my mental checklists of everything I need to do and chip away at them until everything is completed.

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Weathering the Unpredictable: Adapting to What We Can Control

Written on March 6, 2024

Hello Dear Readers,

 

Yesterday presented itself as one of those frustrating days that tested my patience to the fullest. The sky opened early in the morning, drenching everything in sight, and the rain didn’t let up for the entire day. There I was, glancing over my to-do list, hoping for even the briefest pause in the downpour to mow the lawn—no such luck. It seemed the weather was conspiring against me, keeping me from ticking off the chores that required being outdoors.

In moments like these, I’m reminded of a strategy my wife often employs: not worrying about what we cannot control. So, with a resigned sigh, I acknowledged the weather’s veto on my plans and decided to reorganize my week. It’s not the end of the world, after all. The forecast promises clearer skies on Thursday, so I’ve earmarked that day to catch up on my lawn mowing, aiming to compensate for last week’s unfinished business.

Tomorrow, however, remains untouched by these alterations as it is one of my regular gaming days—an appointment with friends that I’m keen to keep. This means I’ll need to be efficient with my time on Thursday to ensure everything is squared away.

Adapting to uncontrollable circumstances like the weather can be quite a challenge. It used to be that such disruptions would either send me into a bout of frustration or cause me to abandon my plans altogether. However, influenced by my wife’s calm demeanor and practical mindset, I’ve learned how to adjust and reshape my plans where possible.

So, what does one do on a day utterly disrupted by bad weather? The answer lies in focusing on what can be managed. It meant rescheduling outdoor tasks and finding other productive ways to use my indoor time effectively. By not dwelling on the disruptions and planning around them, I find that not only am I able to maintain my productivity, but I also preserve my peace of mind.

This approach isn’t just about avoiding frustration. It’s about harnessing the situation and maximizing what is within our control. Whether it’s rearranging tasks, shifting priorities, or simply taking a moment to pause and regroup, the ability to adapt is a powerful skill in our everyday lives. It keeps us moving forward, even when the weather—or life itself—doesn’t seem to be on our side.