First week of work is over...barely made it through.
Day One - Tuesday was not that difficult. It was a moonday so I arrived at work all fresh and ready to roll. Spent the first hour and half with the usual paper work, orientation, getting familiar with the software, and office rules and procedures. I'm an independent contractor now so I get paid only by the billable hour. I don't get paid for admin time...that sucks but I expected it. I left Silverlake at 8:45AM, arrived after an hour(my drive suck, all surface street...too many stop lights) and left work after 7:30PM. I only got 6 hours of billable time in...bummer. By 4PM, my eyes were already burning.
Day Two - Wednesday was the most difficult day. I woke up at 5AM, headed to practice at 6AM and started at 6:15AM. It was a good practice and got out of the shala by 8. Headed home for a real shower...much better than the Italian baths I use to take before I left for Mysore. I was dying for a nap but I had to rush for work. I had to make a major decision on my drive to work...pass out in the middle of the day or drink coffee to help me get through the day. I opted for the coffee and it help me through the day...got in 8 hours of billable time...barely. Left the office by 8PM. I think I'm going to end up a coffee addict at the end of this tax season...something has to give. I'm still finding my balance...do I back off from practice or do I give it all I have and just load up on the coffee? Got to bed around 10:30PM totally exhausted but still feeling the caffiene...not a very deep sleep.
Day Three - Thursday, barely woke up at 5AM. My body said NOOO!!!...I was too tired for practice. Do I force myself to the shala or go back to bed? It was a no brainer...went back to bed. Something had to give...practiced non-attachment. Second practice I missed since arriving in LA...I'm trying not to beat myself up too badly. The extra two hours of sleep really helped. Got through the day without coffee and got my 8 billable hours...whoppeee!!! It's harder than it sounds. I can't believe I used to do 10 to 11 billable hours a day easy...now I can barely get 8. Has Mysore weakened me?
Day Four - Thank God it's Friday!!! In Mysore I hated Fridays and Sundays because I don't particularly like led classes...it was Thank God it's Monday!!! Got up at 5:15AM and started practiced at 6:15AM. It was a so so practice...no comment. Skipped headstand and went straight to savasana...backed off a bit. Got to work a little before 10AM and was confronted with the coffee decision again...pass out at work or drink coffee. I did the coffee route but a very small cup...half the amount I took last Wednesday. Got through the day with half the amount...maybe next week, I'll take half of today's amount. Got an email from the IT department..."the network will shutdown at 7PM". Got only 7.5 hours of billable...bummer, oh well at least I get to leave early.
I'm glad this work week is over. I think next week will be better. Maybe next week I won't feel like a whuzz for barely getting 8 hours of work in. I need to find my balance soon...the story of my life. My hope this tax season is that I don't become a coffee addict and that I don't gain the weight I normally do.