maid for mornings
I've been reading about time management techniques via a book by Julie Morgenstern. I love reading books by people who spend so much time in New York that they don't even realize the NY-isms when they use them. (What's a walk-up?) One of her instructions is to do an honest assesment of how long it takes you to do anything. For example, on principle I should be able to be up and out of the house in half an hour provided all I have to do is get dressed and put my things in a bag. Extended grooming add another half hour. Make lunches for everyone and breakfast for myself, another half hour. Bus should take a half hour. Essentially I think everything should take half an hour. Paying attention this morning, it seems I can get up at 6am and easily not make it into work until 10am, provided I have a normal morning in which I don't have to eat a power bar at my desk. That's just phenomenally unacceptable. I think I have to go into mourning for my morning. And every day is like this.
Fixes could include laying clothes out the night before (but what if the weather changes, and who has energy or surface area for such things, plus does it really take that much time), or packing lunches the night before (but soggy lettuce), or shower the night before (um, is that a cat on your head), or eat breakfast the night before. This is one of those things that just takes time whether at night or in the morning. Perhaps a qualified psychiatrist who doubles as a maid - now that would help.