Libraries Rock

 Today I had some admin work I needed to get done after my client sessions. I’m in my first week of working from home full time and I LOVE it. However, I know myself well enough to know that it’s going to be hard for me in some ways. When I am home and there are dishes waiting to be done, or laundry that needs to be folded, or a rambunctious puppy that needs to be walked I have a hard time focusing. 

I am neurodivergent and a messy or disorganized space plays a big role in my ability to focus (and relax). I also am REALLY good at prioritizing literally anything other than what I should be doing. That sometimes means I will clean instead of getting my paperwork done. If I fall into that trap then I get behind and feel overwhelmed and I tend to avoid it even more. Then the cycle repeats. 

While I have set boundaries (see my previous post) about how I am doing things different this time around, this one needed to be with myself. Paperwork is a non-negotiable in my role. I have built a system to do it while I’m in a session or directly after (by building time into my schedule). Doing it in the moment I am way more likely to stay caught up and I can use the in-between time for things like tossing in a load or laundry or switching over the dishes. 

I also know I need to get out of the house. I LOVE my house. It’s warm and cozy. My stuff is there. My favorite people are often there. That being said, it’s not healthy for me to be there 24/7 and only leave to Costco. Today I had a big gap in my afternoon. The puppy and I had taken a nice walk in the morning so I tossed in a load of laundry, started the dishwasher, and grabbed my stuff and decided to work from the library for a few hours. 

In a time where our political climate is fucking terrifying a disaster things like libraries are SO important. I was able to come here and sit in a little cubby and connect to the WiFi. I printed some documents I needed to print. I sat in a semi-secluded, quiet-ish space and was productive. This is huge for me, but it’s also my small way of taking a stand. At the library I don’t have to feel guilty for working and not doing dishes (where the other Mom’s at, I can’t be the only one that feels this way). I am not distracted by the other things that need my attention, though the giggles of small children are distracting in the very best way. 

I think I am going to start coming here once a week and making it a priority. Libraries are community spaces. Community is resistance. I often borrow books, but don’t utilize this space in the way I could. Today that changed. I’m looking forward to this being my 2nd home once a week for a while.