I’ve been in NYC for nearly 10 weeks and I truly thought I’d be in a routine by now. I’m a routine person. Even if it’s not a perfect one, I still like to be in my kind of routine.
I’m not even saying my usual day to day habits were ideal by any means. I failed to have a decent structure. Couldn’t seem to get things done on my to-do list like create video on a weekly basis even though my Asana would tell me to like clockwork.
But it was a routine I enjoyed even if it was a bit chaotic. Straight to the computer when I wake up for a few hours before a workout and then late breakfast. Followed by a shower, and dilly-dallying, then back to the computer for a few hours in the afternoon.
I always had my Mondays where I got in a workout class, then hit up Trader Joe’s and Publix to stock the fridge for the week. My favorite day of the week honestly. It just felt like a good reset.
And I’d always find myself on the couch by around 4:30 for a little rest, which was a habit demanded by Pork who is no longer with us, but the habit lives on. I find myself still wanting to head to the couch for a little break around that time.
This was a routine I loved and thrived in. And it just felt good. But right now, I’m struggling.
Failure To Launch
My routine in NYC is simply non-existent. I still don’t know how I feel about my grocery store options. While there’s a Trader Joe’s across the street, regular grocery store options are a bit further and I’ve yet to find a groove with which one I like and when to go.
There’s no working out happening besides a handful of SoulCycle classes and many long walks throughout the city. I am someone who usually works out 3-4 days a week. Having a gym in my building in Atlanta was key to keeping that routine. I just don’t have that up here. Finding a gym is on the to-do list.
And don’t even ask me how much time I’ve spent actually sitting at my desk working. I can count the days on one hand that I had really productive computer days. I’ve never been more lax about getting new blog posts up than ever before. It’s completely out of character for me. But also realizing my blog is still surviving with the lack of structure is probably a good lesson to learn. Maybe I don’t need to be so hard on myself after all.
Plus, creating content has gone out the window. While I have made some fun Reels out and about in NYC, I had high hopes of creating video content in the apartment. But timing it with good light and where I’m at in my day has been impossible.
I guess I just thought since I had a routine, I would easily create one here. Boy was I wrong. And not to mention moving during the holidays truly threw a wrench in it all. Between family visiting, friends being in town, and holiday events and parties, nothing fell into place. Then I went home for the holidays. I figured when I got BACK I could dive right in. I was excited to start 2024 in NYC.
Then my grandmother passed away. I rushed home to be there for family within the first few days of 2024. This was not how I wanted to start the year.
I’m Officially Back In NYC
I’m officially back in the NYC apartment and I’m hoping things start to fall into place. A few new home decor things arriving are making the apartment feel more like mine. And I think I’ve determined that Wegman’s is going to be my go-to grocery store. It’s on the way home from SoulCycle and Barry’s, two classes I love to take on ClassPass.
My fridge is stocked and I’m on a roll with cooking meals at home. And I feel like I’m a little more inspired with blog work. Maybe a routine will slowly start to form now without all of these distractions I had initially.
I have no upcoming trips planned, no visitors coming, and I am starting a French class this weekend that will hopefully help to force a bit of a routine for me. And I think something I may try to implement is planning my week out a bit better.
My social calendar in NYC has been busier than it ever was in Atlanta. But at the same time, I also want to foster friendships I’m starting and I can quickly fall into a habit of working from the couch and being at home as a default. And then before I know it, those friendships don’t actually grow.
So it may be time at the beginning of every week to plan out some things. Something I never did before because my routine was in place and I was even in a routine with getting together with friends. But sitting down every Sunday or Monday morning, and planning out my workouts, a few meals I plan to cook at home, and any social things I can fill into the mix, may be what I need to start doing. I have never been one to be that organized, but I think I would greatly benefit from just trying to come up with a plan even if it’s a loose one that can be flexible if things come up.
If you have any recommendations on how to create routines or plan your week out, I’d love to hear about them. Drop your suggestions in the comments below.
But I’m Loving It!
Don’t get me wrong, the lack of a routine is not a reflection of how I feel about being here. I’ve never felt more aligned with where I’m supposed to be. And I think having new decor things in the apartment, and seeing these new friends of mine more than once or twice, is making it feel more like home too.
This failure to launch in NYC just feels more like a chaotic start, but also a lazy launch too. I can’t really put my finger on which though. But I can tell you that I’m glad to be figuring it out in New York City, the city I always wanted to live in. And even though it still doesn’t feel real, I think it is safe to say, that yes, I am living here. Because that’s a topic for a whole other conversation in feeling that this isn’t real.
