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MagicalRealist · 06-06-2009, 06:09 PM

When I have a dog gnawing it's own tail kind of day, it's often because I'm tired. Not dead-tired, but maybe I just didn't get enough deep sleep the night before. You know how cranky-yet-hyper little kids can be when it's past naptime? If I can identify with that, I go take a nap.

Otherwise, I put on loud, aggressive music (this is when I listen all that old Motorhead, Black Sabbath, and Judas Priest

) and do some filthy, dirty, utterly brainless job I've been putting off for a while. Last time, I pulled the washer and dryer out of their closet and cleaned all the accumulated lint and filth and fossilized lost socks from underneath. I've scrubbed soap scum off the shower walls. I've washed the kitchen walls and ceiling. I've taken the entire stovetop apart and detail-cleaned it. I've pulled weeds, I've washed the car, I've cleaned the fridge, I've hauled a load of trash to the dump. You get the idea. Brainless tasks.

It doesn't really matter what I do, or how important that task is to the overall scheme of my life; what it does is give me something specific that needs to be done, that I can accomplish in 1-3 hours, that doesn't require any complicated procedures or decision-making, and that will show a dramatic, visible result once I have finished it.

When I'm done? I'm sweaty, filthy, and have pruny hands, but there is no doubt that I've accomplished something. The shower sparkles. There is space in the garage that used to be full of junk. The refrigerator is no longer terrifying. And by then, all that frustrated energy has been spent and no matter how tired I may be I feel like a big weight has been lifted from me.

I haven't been stuck at work (especially in an office setting) on days like that in a very long time, but if you can't leave, maybe there is some mindless "maintenance" sort of task you've been putting off? Clearing out old files (both physical and on your hard drive), rearranging any pictures or personal items in your office or cubicle, admitting you're not in top form and asking for an idiot-proof task that genuinely needs to be done?

06-06-2009, 06:09 PM	#13 (permalink)
MagicalRealist Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 342	When I have a dog gnawing it's own tail kind of day, it's often because I'm tired. Not dead-tired, but maybe I just didn't get enough deep sleep the night before. You know how cranky-yet-hyper little kids can be when it's past naptime? If I can identify with that, I go take a nap. Otherwise, I put on loud, aggressive music (this is when I listen all that old Motorhead, Black Sabbath, and Judas Priest ) and do some filthy, dirty, utterly brainless job I've been putting off for a while. Last time, I pulled the washer and dryer out of their closet and cleaned all the accumulated lint and filth and fossilized lost socks from underneath. I've scrubbed soap scum off the shower walls. I've washed the kitchen walls and ceiling. I've taken the entire stovetop apart and detail-cleaned it. I've pulled weeds, I've washed the car, I've cleaned the fridge, I've hauled a load of trash to the dump. You get the idea. Brainless tasks. It doesn't really matter what I do, or how important that task is to the overall scheme of my life; what it does is give me something specific that needs to be done, that I can accomplish in 1-3 hours, that doesn't require any complicated procedures or decision-making, and that will show a dramatic, visible result once I have finished it. When I'm done? I'm sweaty, filthy, and have pruny hands, but there is no doubt that I've accomplished something. The shower sparkles. There is space in the garage that used to be full of junk. The refrigerator is no longer terrifying. And by then, all that frustrated energy has been spent and no matter how tired I may be I feel like a big weight has been lifted from me. I haven't been stuck at work (especially in an office setting) on days like that in a very long time, but if you can't leave, maybe there is some mindless "maintenance" sort of task you've been putting off? Clearing out old files (both physical and on your hard drive), rearranging any pictures or personal items in your office or cubicle, admitting you're not in top form and asking for an idiot-proof task that genuinely needs to be done?