1. Wake up at 6:30, get up immediately after alarm goes off

I set my alarm clock for 7:15. I snooze it at least twice before fully waking up at 7:40. I should have gone to bed before midnight. Maybe I’ll do that tomorrow and then set my alarm to go off earlier. 

2. Go to the gym after waking up

My body aches after waking up. I don’t get why I’m always so sore waking up. I can’t even entertain the thought of working out when the sun has barely risen. I’ll pass today.

3. Shower, eat breakfast, jump right into work energized

I’ve skipped the gym, I’m not hungry for breakfast, and I’m getting kind of tired of cereal, but at least I showered. I don’t have a set start time for work, but normally I try to start around 8:30. No matter what time I start though, I still don’t feel like I’ve hit the ground running.

3.1. Do work outside of the apartment (optional)

Working from home has its perks, but it’s monotonous, especially if 80% of the work you do is on your own. It’s hard to distinguish each day from one another when I’m just sitting at home. But leaving the apartment involves a plan I normally don’t commit to. How badly do I want to bike today?

4. Take an actual lunch break

This should be so easy. Making lunch isn’t a hassle. Normally there’s something from the night before or food we’ve bought to make a quick lunch. I just need to put down my laptop while I eat. Why am I still on Stathead and looking into probabilities for this event? Are the odds of catching three foul balls in one inning really that high? 

Looks like I’m already done eating. I guess I’ll just keep working until the end of the workday. I need to find clips for that TikTok we’re working on.

5. After work, make the day memorable

I normally end my work day anywhere from 4:15 to 5. This gives me plenty of time to do something before I need to start winding down, but the Braves play at 7:20 and even though they’re making me miserable this season, it is a Chris Sale start day. I’d rather not miss it. 

Besides, I’m exhausted, but I should still go to the gym. After running, it will be around 7 anyway. I’ll be more wiped out, and at that point I’ll really not feel like leaving the apartment. 

6. It’s 9 p.m., there’s still time to do something

No, there isn’t, I have to start getting ready for bed in…two hours? Maybe there is time.

7. Go to sleep by 11

I started winding down around 10:30, but  I just checked the time and somehow it’s 11:47. I still need to brush my teeth. I should get up early tomorrow to exercise. Maybe I’ll even go to NoMa, work at a coffee shop, and get A. Litteri for lunch. 

But do I really want to change my alarm for tomorrow?

Mitchell Barbee

Mitchell Barbee graduated from Calvin University with a B.A. in writing in 2021. Originally from Boone, North Carolina, he is currently residing in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He enjoys hanging out with the few friends who stayed, wearing grey hoodies, and hoping that he doesn’t get sucked into the nightly wormhole of watching a baseball game.