I learned at least one valuable lesson when I had no running water nor electricity during a series of five snowstorms within a yearlong pandemic: I don’t need a fucking alarm clock. I’d been holding out for a long time. I had my telecommuting routine years before the pandemic, so there wasn’t a need to adjust it.
Even when the job became less lucrative, I still maintained my Monday-Friday routine. My precious weekends were sacred.
That all changed when I no longer had the infrastructure to work. I was in more of a survival mode than just being quarantined. I arose from bed with the sunrise and prepared for bed at sunset. Even when I shifted to a friend’s house, I started the day at sunrise, but only worked a few hours at a time.
Fortunately, my family and some friends donated money to the unofficial Teresa Survival Fund. I was moved to tears, but in that moment, I knew I had to work every day. For once, that idea did not repulse my sensibilities. I slipped behind during the pandemic. The infrastructure crisis sealed the deal.
The second thought that concerned my new daily work schedule was no longer setting an alarm clock. Normally, the alarm sounded at 6:30 AM. As the week progressed, I had less energy. If I’d partially wake up during the night, I’d wonder if it was worth going back to sleep only for the alarm to sound a few minutes later. My mind churned with that bullshit until the alarm sounded.
Working daily, I couldn’t afford to lose rest as the week progressed. Once I shifted back home, I didn’t set my clock alarm–not since the morning of February 15th when the electricity went out. (Did I mention I’ve always had a battery-operated alarm clock since I used to be Peace Corps Volunteer and wanted to tell time regardless of electricity? That habit has served me well!)
Without a rigid wake up time, I’m resting better. I discovered back when I was a Peace Corps Volunteer in the early 90s that time-saving devices didn’t actually save time. Now, I’ve taught myself that shit gets done even if I don’t wake up at bleary-eyed o’clock.