I think I must be very sensitive to changes in routine. The early time change back to EST has really thrown me for a loop. My routines are out of kilter, my writing is off, and I basically forgot that I haven't blogged in over a week. Mostly, I've been doing a lot of staring into space and wondering where the time has gone.
I typically fight an insidious depression in the spring. Just at the time when the earth is waking up from its winter dormancy, I want to crawl into a hole. I think I need to find a term that is the opposite of "SAD" (seasonal affective disorder). *Most* folks get depressed when the light goes away. Not me. And joy of joys, now that we have the return to EST early this year, the mood downturn that usually strikes me in April/May, has started mid-March.
It has gotten easier to manage over the years. It helps that I am aware of the pattern and can tell when I'm starting to play possum with friends and family. It helps that I have a 3 yo dog who loves, no demands, her daily walks and play. It helps that my aforementioned friends and family also know this pattern and help keep me connected.
So my plan for this spring is: plenty of exercise (good for my psyche, my weight, and the dog), pay attention to hydration and lay off the caffeine, and routine, routine, routine. I have a novel to finish, a novel to edit, and another short story deadline coming up. I also need to get back into the rhythm of writing poetry regularly. That has fallen by the wayside of late and it helps keeps my emotional balance.
So that's my plan. And I'll try not to let a week go between blog posts. If I disappear, give a holler, ok?
Oh, I know what you mean about the spring forward blues. I get weird in spring. I think a lot of it is simply dread. I hate yardwork and my allergies will be kicking into high gear any moment.
ReplyDeleteI find winter allows me to make a lot of excuses that spring doesn't allow. I hate not being able to make excuses.