Time Warp

I have been in a time warp this week.  I usually go to work late on Monday, because I have a late afternoon obligation, which I enjoy. But before I went to work this past Monday,  I had to complete some tasks for the South Plains Branch of NASW.  So, rather than sit at home and relax before I went to work, I was working. It was not difficult or stressful, just time consuming.

So, at work, I had to complete documentation from the Friday before. I hate doing late notes, for two reasons: First of all, it is just not best practice.  But, it also makes me have to adjust back and forth between the late note day and the current day. To me, it is dizzying.  In other words, I get confused. And have some vertigo, and occasionally, nausea.

After leaving work Monday at the prescribed late hour, I had an errand to run for South Plains Branch NASW to get copies made, then went home, fed the cats, stuffed some envelopes, and ran more errands: This included going to the library to return some items that were due, but of course, while I was there, I picked up some more reading material. Then I dropped off mail for South Plains Branch NASW, and got take out dinner, and went home.  It was almost 8 PM when I arrived home, which surprised me but was in line with what I should have expected.  I did the best I could to go through my normal routine of cat attention, email, computer games and what have you, as I tried to wind down for the night.   But, it was a late night.

I realized, Monday evening, that I had signed up for an RSVP CEU activity, sponsored by the Lubbock Medical Society that would start Tuesday early evening, but last at least until 8 PM.  When I had signed up, I had planned to go home from work, feed the cats, and go to the event. In the meantime, I was scheduled for another meeting for another volunteer activity at Catholic Charities, Diocese of Lubbock, that I felt I could not miss.  I hated it, but the cats would just have to be fed late.  I put out extra food at breakfast.  I coordinate an RSVP CEU activity, and hate it when folks RSVP and then are unable to attend without any notice, or show up without RSVPing.  I do not want to be one of those people. 

Tuesday morning, I tried to start early, because I needed to vote before going to work. I showed up at the polling place, and learned that instead of voting in the school library, we were now voting in the gym, which was accessible through the school, but was around the block from the school library, where I parked.  I voted and then hiked back to my car and went on to work, arriving a few minutes later than I had hoped.

Oh well.  

I kept all of my patient contacts Tuesday, but was able to document very few.  Again, I hate the necessity to do late documentation, but it is what it is.

I arrived for the volunteer activity at Catholic Charities, Diocese of Lubbock, late in the afternoon after work, and it was a very productive meeting, which ended without my feeling stressed about getting to the RSVP CEU activity, sponsored by the Lubbock County Medical Society.  That training was a great training, and a wonderful meal, to boot!

So, I arrived home late Tuesday night.  The cats were not too happy, but were given their favorite treats and food, and settled down, and even sat with me for a while. True to form, I had difficulty winding down enough to sleep. 

Of course, Wednesday morning, I slept in later than I had planned but was still able to get to work at a reasonable. time. I did my Wednesday tasks as planned, but still had to do the late documentation from Tuesday.  Once again, I was shifting between yesterday and today, so my mind had trouble focusing and adjusting.

What helped was that I had planned to take off Thursday afternoon. How I will complete my Thursday documentation means I will have to cancel some group time the next week, if I cannot complete it on Friday. But, meanwhile it meant I could stay late (45 minutes) on Wednesday to complete my documentation for Tuesday and Wednesday.  And, I can stay late on Friday if I need to.

After I left work, I ran errands.  I had dinner and was trying to wind down, and it took me a while to decide it was Wednesday, and tomorrow, Thursday, I had morning obligations at work that I would not be able to document until later.  I have permission to leave late Thursday morning, for the afternoon off, and I would go the South Plains Branch NASW CEU meeting.  When I will do the late documentation, I do not know.  I do know that when that happens, it will once again put me in a time warp.

Being in a time warp is minimal, disconcerting, but usually causes me mental distress, nausea, and a lack of confidence. 

I dislike being in a time warp.

Hopefully, soon at work, my time will be straight-forward, not in a time warp, and somehow I will be able to do the documentation that is required of me on the day it is due.