Returning to the present

Separating work and life into two different containers

I recently read a post from Stoic Wellness that resonated with me.

It has been a month since my last post, for good reason. I now spend a month at a time in Asia teaching. This was my third trip in 10 months, and I absolutely love it. It’s definitely work, but with inspiring and fulfilling students, even though I’m grinding 23 days of 25 in the country.

I establish a well-needed routine of wake up at 5a, do my US timezone emails with my protein coffee / breakfast, go workout or hit the studio early, teach for 9 hours, walk to grab dinner, sleep, and repeat.

“Zen” on my walk to work each morning.

It works wonders! Even though I’m teaching a lot, the level of calm in this routine feels fantastic. Partly because I’m around non-English speakers, take way fewer meetings, and partly because I’m acutely aware that once I get back to my hotel, the US is asleep. This creates a deep sense of rest in my mind and body, and I’m trying to cultivate it now that I’m back in California.

In the latest read from Stoic Wellness, they say, “You cannot always control your workload. But you can control where your attention lives.”

My travel work and home work are two totally different scenarios. The aforementioned is much harder for me to implement when I’m back in the US. Especially after coming off a month-long “bender” of daily teaching.

When I arrive back home, I almost feel like I need to ADD to my work schedule, when in reality, it’s the opposite. It’s time for me to marinate in the flow of my home life, and work on what the Stoics call “intentional closure,” by acknowledging:

What you accomplished.

What is still open?

What will be your first step tomorrow?

This mental organization produces a clear line in the sand.

It creates clarity and reduces mental overthinking and carryover.

As simple as this may sound, it can be quite difficult for someone who has identified “as their work” for a very long time.

On the precipice of a week OFF for spring break, I write this post out of accountability. Will I have to do some home work? Yes. However, I will also be testing the philosophy from Stoic Wellness full send.

Practicing transitions.

Honoring the reset.

Being present in the current moment.

Not thinking about what needs to be done in the work container. Being here now. Sipping the coffee. Writing for joy. Walking with nature.

Not because I have to get these things done. Because they are a part of my life container and the texture of a well-lived day.

I remind myself of something I’ve said for YEARS, yet struggle with in practice.

More is more. Better is better. So instead of MORE, I want to think of:

Better presence.

Better transitions.

Better BEING here now.

I’m curious. Do you have a routine you lean on to help you transition from your work to home identity? What is it?