A good indicator that a job has run its course for me has been when I find myself watching the clock or the days just drag on and on. Conversely, when I'm into a job, or at the very least keeping very busy with it, time goes quickly, week after week. The biggest thing that I notice is that my kid keeps getting taller. It's not a grind, but I'm acutely aware of a certain amount of monotony. This is made worse by the fact that right now I don't take time off frequently enough. I've committed to taking a week off quarterly, but each time I hit that point I'm anxious to bust out.
Which gets to the real problem: I need to bust my routine from time to time. It felt pretty obvious to me today. I started the day by going to work when I intended to take the day off, because I did not stand my ground, took meetings and had lunch with a new peer of mine (that part wasn't like work). After that, I got into the car to head to the hotel on the far side of town near the place where we have our annual Orlando Code Camp. This is my sixth year doing it, and it involves a speaker party the night before. Most of the time, I don't feel a great need to do stuff without my family, but this is a rare exception. Just driving out and doing something not routine during the work day feels good.
I'm off this week, with a little adventure travel for our 10th anniversary. I have to not wait for special occasions for routine busting.
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