in which we talk about the mundane 🧺

“Time doesn't seem to pass here: it just is.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien

Some days are pretty mundane, aren’t they? Indeed, some seasons can be. Years, even (2020, anyone?)

 Here’s my personal list of Mundane Activities:

1. sorting, washing, ironing, folding and putting away clothes

2. doing the recycling and putting out the bins

3. thinking about meals, writing a food list, doing said food shop, unpacking a food shop

4. doing lifts to and from rugby training, after school rugby, any other kind of rugby

5. writing emails and proposals and responding to emails that are responding to my emails

6. nagging about homework and unpacking bags and putting away shoes and…

Yours might include routine staff meetings.

Reading the end of month reports.

Or playing trains with a toddler for the umpteenth time.

Marking sixty books and nobody has used the correct version of the word your/you’re (give me strength).

Listening to the same customer complaints and issues over and over.

But I’ve come across a life hack to help us with the mundane. It starts with the words ‘I get to.’ It’s a quick re-frame to help us shift our perspective in the monotony of life.

It goes like this. Let’s reframe my list.

Washing - I get to choose between a variety of clothes today

Bins - I get to recycle and make a positive impact on the future

Food - I get to eat a varied, interesting diet. I get to feed my family and friends

Lifts - I get to see my children enjoy a sport they love

Emails - I get to communicate with my amazing clients, I get to do amazing work and this is how it starts

Nagging - I get to influence my three children for the good

 You could try the same with your list.

 Shift the monotony to privilege.

It doesn’t make it brilliant, it doesn’t mean it’s the best, it doesn’t mean there isn’t more, but it can help in the moment.

Love, Hannah x