Stargazing and Profitability
Here’s a quiz.
1. Which is the better use of your time?
A. Staying up to view the Perseid meteor shower at 11:30 p.m., and again at 3:30 a.m.
Or
B. Working in the office until 10:30 p.m. on Project X.
2. Which will yield greater productivity during your work day?
A. Strolling around your garden at first light, pulling some weeds, snacking on nasturtiums, and taking a few closeup pictures.
OR
B. Rolling out of bed and into the office at dawn with coffee in hand.
And that’s the end of the quiz, but you can see where I am going with it.
I chose 1-A last night. Despite swarms of mosquitos, a strange, VERY nearby squawking-pterodactyl-like sound that scared the you-know-what-out of me at midnight, and a skunk who arrived and stood sentry-like outside my front door just as I planned to go back inside and to bed, it was the right choice.
This morning, sleep deprived, I loaded up a bowl with yogurt and gigantic blackberries from the Farmer’s Market and chose 2-A. Wandering through my garden, overgrown with beautiful weeds after recent weeks of monsoon rains, I discovered all kinds of lovely surprises.
With the right mindset, whether sleep-deprived or not, you can start your work day right, and end the day still loving your job. I got more done today than on many of those days where I rushed into the office trying to catch the worm that was, actually, waiting for me outside.
Tonight I am a little tired, and that macro shot of my begonia (above, right) is a little gauzy (i.e., out of focus), but I feel refreshed to have spent a little time examining both the heavens and the earth before I got down to business today.
And, I still recorded a tidy number of billable hours!
Comment // August 15th, 2007 // 7:31 am
Sounds like you enjoyed the aftermath of a rainy day! We are knee deep in weeds here and are making few inroads in them, but nevertheless, loving the rain! Sounds like you found the perfect balance between work and relaxation..
Those skunks! I ran into one in my laundry room one night! I’m on a full blown skunk kick on the blog!
Comment // August 15th, 2007 // 12:12 pm
Katie, for years, I’ve been trying to “balance” and “simplify” my life. Last week I finally decided that I have too much to balance (I look like a circus act!) and that my attempts to simplify have often complicated my life.
So now, I’m going to try slowing down. Sounds simple, but it’s difficult for me. And your post couldn’t have been more timely. Thanks for the validation that I’m not the only one on this path. :O)
Comment // August 17th, 2007 // 6:34 pm
Linda, don’t talk to me about skunk kicks! You surely recall the skunk assault on our home that happened now about five years ago… we had to move out for over a month and, to this day you can still smell the damage in the floorboards in one son’s room. Yuk!
Angela, thanks for telling me that we crossed paths in a meaningful way for you. Timing is everything. When we’re swamped, it’s really hard to pick up on the messages the universe is sending our way, isn’t it?
When I decided NOT to accept any new work (except the ones that made my heart sing), I was scared at first, but the decision has been validated again and again.
Hey, today is Friday so you must be out at the farm by now. Hope it’s great weekend there. Have you read Barbara Kingsolver’s latest book? I goes with your life, I think!
Pingback // December 21st, 2007 // 10:49 am
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