I seem to spend so many of my waking days in Microsoft Office. When I get the chance, I like to switch it up and use another application for writing. After spending the last year using Dropbox Paper to write blog posts, I switched over to Google Docs and I’m finding out I like it.
After four + weeks of social isolation, I still say it’s challenging even for a person like me who enjoys their time alone. I continue to put one foot in front of the other and move forward.
Here’s how I’m seeing self-isolation:
The good
I’ve been full of ideas for personal writing projects that I plan to publish on this blog, LinkedIn, or Medium.
I have the time to read a lot more.
I have a job and a career that lets me work from home.
I’m still writing about the cloud and DevOps for TechTarget.
The bad
I continue to feel like my wings are clipped because I’m stuck at home.
My days are bleeding together and my first words on some mornings are “Alexa, what day is it?”
I can’t get to the gym and struggle to find the motivation to exercise at home
Grocery shopping remains a challenge because there are still some shortages in my area that make it hard to experiment with new recipes which were part of my plan to pass the time.
It’s another week down in social isolation. It’s Saturday. I woke up this morning and continued to work on some projects in my basement. Then I worked out with a kettlebell for a bit. I’m still trying to get more physically active again while my gym remains closed. It could be a while until my local area meets the criteria for the federal government’s three-phase opening up America strategy.
Here’s a current rundown of how I’m spending my self-isolation:
I attended a Zoom happy hour today a woman from my gym was throwing. It was good to see and talk to people again. Getting back to the gym will be a happy day.
As week 5 of self-isolation trudges on, I’m finding a new pace to get work done and to keep moving forward. Last night, I mustered up the motivation to work out with my new kettlebells and plan to up my exercise game yet again today.
Here’s what else I have going on:
I won the jackpot last night and was to get an Amazon Prime Fresh delivery through, which made me feel good.
I’m still washing my hands…a lot.
I’m trying to get better at eating again after the first few weeks of shutdown.
I did the author review on my latest article for Opensource.com which should be live soon. There should be another article following up right after that one.
My hope at the start of the current shutdown was to get some personal writing projects done and published and I’m moving forward on that plan. I’m still not happy with publishing articles on LinkedIn. In fact, so unhappy that I’m experimenting by publishing the same article to Medium (since it now supports canonical links).
I sent out some pitches to new markets and keeping my fingers crossed I can find some extra work.
Tonight, the plan includes getting back to writing for an upcoming TechTarget article and spending more time with my kettlebells.
Well, it’s the end of week 4 of my self-isolation. Time doesn’t fly. Then again, this is a marathon, not a sprint. In fact, I was caught surprised that today is Good Friday and that Sunday is Easter. Except for the crab cakes in my freezer from the Crab Cake Factory, I’m rather blah on the holiday.
Here’s how I’ve been passing the time:
Working my usual job with the usual document reviews and con calls
Spending some time on cybersecurity topics which is always a good thing
Writing up and sending out some new pitches to send to other markets
Boning up on my Kubernetes for the sake of learning
Considering writing another article for opensource.com
This weekend I’m continuing work on some projects in my basement. Beyond that, I plan to work out with my new kettlebells. It’s also time to start my next TechTarget article.