Getting Back Into the Work Frame of Mind

My "Well, here we go again" face. Bella-cat is ready for me to go!

I am getting ready to go back to work tomorrow.

Sigh.

I used to get about two weeks at the end of the regular school year to rest and relax and refresh. No longer. We now get a week off at the beginning of July instead of getting a longer break at the beginning and the end of the summer session. I understand why this is so, but I really miss long breaks because I never really get to the point where I feel bored at home any more. We will get 13 days off at the end of the summer session, but that is not quite enough to accomplish boredom for me. It's strange, but that's how I am. I have to have the time to get completely tired of my own company and completely enthralled with the idea of being in the music therapy clinic. Right now, I'm still as tired as I was at the beginning of the break.

Well, enough nattering about the past - it's in the past. The new reality is the same amount of time off but spread out more and more. Rather than complain about all of this, I will start to figure out ways to make this more familiar and something that can work for me.

One of the things that I used to be able to do was to make plans to clean out and clear up my living space. With 19 days off, I could work on projects and still have ample time for watching movies, taking naps, and going to the pool. At the end of the extended breaks, I would have a clean home and the start of a tan. I can't do as much as I used to anymore, so I need to start changing my expectations of what I can actually accomplish.

This break, I wanted to clear out and change up my closets. That was my only goal. I have two closets in my bedroom, and they are full of things. I have managed to change up the closets, but my plans to clean all of my clothing and then thin out what I have got a bit scrambled when my dryer went on the fritz. So, that project is half-way done and waiting the delivery of the new dryer next week. Unfortunately, that means that I have to cram all of the stuff that I took out of my closets back into the closets because I have to have space and room to get the new appliances into the utility space. I also have to put things away because the pet sitter is coming over and that person has to be able to walk around the place without having to go through the rabbit warren that is my way of navigating. 

All of this just to illustrate that I am not quite ready to head back into a world of session strategizing and planning. I am still immersed in the things I want to do here at home but just haven't been able to finish up. Time is up, however, so it is time to start thinking about work.

This first week back is going to be full of new challenges. I have a completely illogical schedule to learn and a new duty to fulfill. I will be reviewing expectations and our reward system with all the groups this week. We have lots of new staff members and students, and it is time to let everyone know what we expect during music therapy - including things like not telling kids that they will never use an instrument again in music therapy because of ... We have lots of people overstepping their boundaries right now, and it is time to let folks know what the expectations are. In addition, I am going to post a big reminder that people need to be quiet and listen during music therapy. I'm tired of trying to sing over people who are talking about things that are not relevant.

See, I am not ready to be back around people yet.

Today, I will do what I can do, and I will be forgiving and gentle with myself when I am finished with the day. I can only do what I can do, and that is what needs to happen.

(By the way, I ate TWO meals of vegetables yesterday!! Today, I am going for some fruit! Go me!)