Kinked & Twisted Rules for Success!

My husband telecommutes every day and his ability to focus and set self-imposed routines and boundaries is nothing short of miraculous. He is at his desk no later than 9am, fully dressed and totally functional. That's right, fully dressed, including socks AND shoes!! He breaks for lunch at noon for no longer than 30 minutes and then is right back to the grind till 5:30pm. He doesn't watch TV or listen to music... He just works...On the rare occasion I'm home on a workday, even after 8 years, I still am reminded to "pretend he's not even there."

I work in an office during the day, so pants are mandatory and my schedule is set for me by the people who sign my paycheck.  With the launch of Kinked & Twisted Yarn Arts I work from home in the evenings (those mittens don't make themselves, you know!)  There is no externally imposed routine to follow when you work for yourself. Boundaries on time are all self-enforced.

I've tried desperately to follow Dave's laudable example: No pj's, set aside uninterruptible hours, no distractions. After all, I'd like this to be my full-time gig someday soon and experts (my grandmother) agree that you should  "Start as you intend to go on." Except...I stink at it. I mean it, total garbage.

Instead of wringing my hands and stressing about my failure to do it the "right way", I've just decided on a new "right way for me"

I hate silence. I need noise happening somewhere close by all of the time. I went to boarding school, then lived in dorms on campus for college - apparently I need sound to learn and make stuff.  I even need noise of some kind to sleep (my husband really is a gem). I always have a TV or music playing.

Shoes and pants are another bone of contention. I'd rather be barefoot, and yoga pants are way cozier than jeans or slacks. A bra? Ladies, I don't even need to detail this one, right?

I have 3 dogs and 3 cats, an 11 year old boy, and a husband.  I haven't so much as peed alone in 12 years.  I learned to love cold coffee since I haven't had a hot one from beginning-to-end since 2005.  And while the Kinked & Twisted household tolerates no sexism in the division of labor, I have higher standards and a more capable skill set for dinner and bathrooms.  I'm not going to win mother of the year any time soon, I'm way too lax on bedtime and swear all the time, but when Gryph talks, I listen.

The only time I'm uninterruptible is when I'm counting stitches, which is of course when my husband needs to tell me something urgently.  Learn the international sign for "I-can't listen-to-you-if-I-lose-count-I'll-karate-chop-you-to-the-gonads."  Make a fist, lift your index finger high and wave it frantically at the offender.  If that doesn't work, make a fist, raise your middle finger high.

I like that I'm available to my family. It works for me to write in bare feet.  I design best when I'm interrupted and come back to a piece with a fresh eye. A good nerf battle in the middle of felting loosens up stiff fingers and a sore back.  A sip of hours old, cold coffee tastes best when I'm taking a moment to pet one of the furry faces wandering our home. 

Like so many other things in my life, I've kinked and twisted that sage advice to "Restart as you intend to go on" so that it works for me!