My weekend was nice, thanks. Reflecting back, I wondered why it felt more relaxing. I think it’s because it was manual, not an automatically prescribed couple of days.
I went to the gym. And yeah, obviously I have a gym app. But instead of using it to automate my workout routine, I used it to log a handmade workout. Dumbbell step-up? No thanks. How about Bulgarian Split Squats, instead? It felt nice to do my own thing, at my own pace.
I started a new book. Physical book. Not an article on my phone. Imagine that!
When was the last time you cooked something without a recipe? I had a (rare) epic fail working to shape baguettes this weekend, but I turned the over-proofed, overworked dough into pizza rounds. What’s in the fridge? Sure, pepperoni cups, giardiniera, and fresh mozzarella sound great. Turn on the Emmys.
Our indoor plants have really suffered from summer days spent outside or out of town. It felt exhilarating (this is not an exaggeration) to dump dead pots and get my hands dirty with new greenery. I dunno how long they’ll live, but right now they’re breathing new life.
Everything we do is automated. As I write this sentence, MS Word is trying to predict the rest of my sentence. It corrected a spelling error as I made it. Google Maps will navigate my best route home. The Peloton will have a prescribed workout ready for me. Netflix will tell me what I should watch.
And so, I recommend that you go manual next weekend. Make your own choices. It’s a nice break from the day-to-day.