Every year when the Daylight Saving Time ends, I come up with options to utilize the twenty-fifth hour gained. A frosty hike in the November morning, an early breakfast, catching up with a procrastinated task, an extra hour of sleep, etc., are regular on my list. Invariably, sleeping an extra hour was chosen from the list this year as well.
Like the rest of the world, I led a life constantly racing against the clock in pre-pandemic times. Monday to Friday, I fled from home to my daughter’s school, school to work, and then in the evening to pick her up from the after school. A blind trust over google map estimation determined the time to wrap up my work and leave the office.
Besides, grocery pick-up, swimming, and other extra classes for my child was part of the evening mad rush. Things spiced up even more whenever my husband traveled for work, and I had to juggle my tasks with the chores he handled.
Those days, I returned home to look at a sink filled with soiled dishes, piles of unfolded laundry dumped over the guest bed, and sticky floors at times. Their cleansing was strictly scheduled around guests visiting.
There are days when I pulled clothes to wear from the heap of laundry or straight from the dryer itself. I was left with no choice for the utensils, but to clear them up regularly as cooking and eating are everyday mandates. At night, when I dump them into the dishwasher and turn it on, that becomes my most significant accomplishment for the day.
I have dreamt of having a few extra hours a day during that crazy period to help me get on track with my to-do’s.
I left my job at the beginning of the pandemic and Bam! I was on fire!
I cooked three healthy meals a day, and the sink was always clean and empty. The clothes were promptly washed, dried, folded, ironed, and placed in the right spot. The house did not have to wait any longer for guests to come for having mopped and cleaned.
I confirmed my presumption of ‘Lack of Time’ being the biggest contributor to my procrastination.
The phase did not last long. I was bored washing and folding the same clothes regularly. The same cutlery, pans, and plates are being used, washed, and emptied from the dishwasher every day. I couldn’t think of anything more monotonous than this.
I remembered a friend who once said, “Why did human beings evolve to eat three meals a day? I wish we only had to eat once a week or so.” Not to mention, she hated cooking!
I was also reminded of a cousin sister who mentioned long ago, before I even started a family of my own, that dishwashing is the most tedious household chore. Due to my single-status privilege back then, I found it ridiculous and considered it one of the easiest and the only tasks I knew to perform at home.
Now, I keep filling my sink until night when they all get to scrub up together in the dishwasher. Except for my child’s school uniform, I remember about laundry when I notice my husband wearing fleece pants on a warm day. I do not eat on a dirty plate or reuse an unwashed dress, but leave it to its own time.
Though I have a provision of time to do this consistently, I realized that this humdrum of daily life should not be my determining factor to a day’s fulfillment.
I am aware of being trapped in this Hamster’s Wheel, which is part of life. The wheel may continue to rotate, but I have the liberty to determine my speed. Slowing it down has helped me being more productive in areas of my interests. I am finding time to read and write more, give undivided attention and quality time to my kid, able to look and see things around beyond the work-home spectrum.
I am enjoying this slow paced Hamster Wheel!
