Making a Routine Routine

I'm trying to build new habits and get rid of old ones. Getting up on time. Going to bed on time. Working every day, doing something toward my dissertation. Exercising, eating well. Spending important quality time with loved ones (during my scheduled hours, of course).

I'm realizing how bad my bad habits are. I let myself get interrupted so often, deliberately, that I forget what I was supposed to be working on in the first place. Trying to say no even takes its toll on me. I THOUGHT I was saying no pretty often, but when I made it a rule, it started to HURT how much that word no had to come out of my mouth. I was starting to question even more whether this dissertation is even worth it, with everything that I'm missing out on.

But today I found that I had some time to put away some clothes that I had been letting pile up for who knows how long. I had spent wonderful time with my family for my mom's birthday, but I also followed a plan, and I had more time than I thought. This can get better, and I won't miss out.

I learned some new quotes in church today:

The world breaks everyone, and some get strong in the broken places - Ernest Hemingway

Also:

If afflictions refine some, they consume others - John Fuller

The scripture reading was Psalm 30: 1-5. It is definitely one to remember.