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Home  >  China  >  Settling in a Routine When You Hate Routine
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Settling in a Routine When You Hate Routine

Posted By Becky Ances Posted on May 4, 2016
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I know I’ve been a bit quiet on this blog recently. It’s not because I stopped doing things, or because I’m tired of writing. It’s also not because I’m so busy I don’t have the time. It’s more than now my life has a schedule and an order that repeats week after week.

Yep, the girl that hates predictability had settled into a routine. *shudder*
I blame badminton. I now play three weeknights each week and as a very efficient person, I have figured out the best use of my time. I go a few hours early, eat at one of four restaurant, then drink tea and write for an hour (at one of four cafes) and exactly at 7:25 I walk to badminton so I have time to change and warm up.

badminton in China
Xiao He is my closest friend that plays amazing badminton. Much higher level than anyone in my group. Sometimes, if I beg hard enough, he’ll come play with us.

The two weeknights I don’t play badminton I have tutoring late in the day, keeping me home. Daytime is also routine. Monday and Wednesday are my writing days in which I spend 2-3 hours in a cafe editing my book. The other three days I have classes.

Basically, I know exactly where I will be every hour of every weekday. This is so un-Becky like.

I hate is routine. As a wanderlust soul I hate having an obligation, even if it is to myself. I hate knowing what this week will be like, and next week, and the week after. I’ve always resisted it.

But I really love what I’m doing now. Playing badminton and writing are my passions and I’m organizing my week around them. I don’t want to change my routine because I have found it to be the most efficient routine possible, and efficiency has always been important to me.

Still tea drinking even though I haven’t written about it.

For instance, I chose those four specific restaurants before badminton because they are good for one person, and the food they serve is suitable before badminton (I can’t eat anything too heavy, but I need to fill up). I write in my journal because I need time after eating to digest a bit, and writing is the most efficient use of that hour. Every now and then, to try to “mix things up” by trying a new restaurant or new cafe, but it always leaves me disappointed (I feel too full, or the cafe isn’t comfortable or too expensive).

I feel super lame doing the same thing every week, but the stuff I do is so satisfying. My weekends are open, and I keep them free which gives me some semblance of free will, but come Monday-Friday I’m the easiest person to stalk. I’m even beginning to recognize the construction workers I see getting off work as I am walking to badminton, because we pass each other several times a week at the same time.

Luckily I’ve made sure, by choosing my job, that my life won’t fall totally into routine forever. My semester is only 16 weeks long (I’m more than halfway through right now) so soon class will be over and I’ll need a new routine based on my new schedule.

So while this schedule is super conducive to badminton, and my life right now, it’s not incredibly inspiring for writing on this blog. I’m not having a lot of new experiences or learning things about the culture. I’m writing, a ton, over at my badminton blog (please check it out!), just not here. So stick with me. I’m quiet now, but this time will pass and soon enough it will be all “blah-blah-blah,” again. Just once I end this frustrating, yet perfect, routine.

My friend opened a spa and we had a great opening party.
One weekend I played an extra day of badminton and went to a pizza party afterwards. Perfect day.
I still support my frisbee friends but I don’t see them as often.
Tags: daily life routine xiamen
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I’m an American who has been living in China for more than a decade! This is my blog where I muse about all things China. Please also check out my YouTube channel “Badminton Becky” and my other badminton blog at www.badmintonbecky.com

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