2024-09-13
From July to August, I managed to not finish a single book. Also from July to August, I wrote very little (AKA not at all) in my journals. I also stopped going to the gym.
This seems to be a trend for me. I have a 5 Year Journal that I started in 2021, where every day is dedicated a page. Each page is split into 5 sections, one for each year. I've noticed that July through August has the least entries almost every year. I don't know what it is about the summer months that makes me less disciplined.
Maybe it's the fact that the sun draws people out of their homes. I know that in July, I went to a week's worth of concerts. In August I went travelling. In 2023, I was in Japan and the Philippines. In 2021, my cat escaped his carrier during a fire alarm and he was lost for two weeks. 2022 wasn't remarkable but still had fewer entries. For the more eventful years, each of these events only accounts for at most two weeks out of the whole summer. Where did the rest of it go?
One hypothesis I have is that I need a lot of time to recuperate after big events or events that are very social. Summer means socializing and getting out of the house. Not a lot of that happens during the winter.
Another hypothesis is that by the middle of the year, I am simply just tired. Following a strict routine every day takes a lot of energy. By the time summer rolls around, I need a break.
A part of me wonders if I should plan around this or plan for it. The difference being, should I tighten up the reins during the summer or should I just accept the summer just means long lazy days? I'm thinking maybe a middle-ground between the two. I think a big factor, for this year at least, was the fact that the semester ended in April. And I was so done. Maybe if I took another course, or joined a book club, I would have retained some semblance of a routine. Just need something to give me some structure, because I cannot reliable draw on willpower alone.
A few weeks into the semester, I feel my butt slowly kicking into gear. I'm having to reform some of my habits again. I wish they didn't erode in the first place.