Be still, my brain

 I wanted to get some words out to help quiet my brain. I don't know about this no working on weekend stuff. It's not like I'm so busy during the week that I'm putting in 40 hours of focused work. This may be a manufactured boundary than one that really makes sense. 

It's really for old me that was over-achieving and overworking. Because I certainly hate the dread and mind circles that come with leaving work undone for Monday.

So I'm up...been up since 5a for an unrelated matter and can't quiet my mind. I have 2 deliverables due today but I'm going to try to push the second one to mid-day tomorrow.

It is actually a bit nice to be in my room with the laptop and have this quiet time to myself before the workday starts. 

This weekend was filled with churning. I guess I'm collecting the drips now. When I first started the churning, I made a point to only seek out bonuses with at least $200 awards. But I've now signed up for 2 or three that are around $100 or less because the lift was so little.

It also doesn't help that after awhile there are less left to do. So I think that's okay.

Things that make my life easier/better

- A space heater

- Quiet time before work

- my toaster oven

- the internet

- access to a self phone if needed

I just wanted to highlight some things because my mind is all over the place. This is undesirable stress. I just want to bury my head in the sand and not talk to anyone till this work gets done. Did we already discuss I only like my work because of the downtime. And I think they're adding another project to my plate this Friday. Noooooooooooo!

I was trying to plot my trip around the world. I really haven't accounted for the amount of vacation time I would need. Mostly I was focused on housing. I was reminded how outside the US, the accommodations look a little different. To date, I don't think I've actually ever stayed in an AirBnB. I've booked twice and cancelled. 

I just prefer big business. There I said it. I like a hotel chain or even the short term rental companies I discovered last year. I don't want a YMMV experience when I'm a 24-hour flight away from home with no phone or anyone to receive me. 

So maybe the trip around the world may be a case of long eye. It also may be a case of - I got this money to burn. 

So money I guess wasn't the reason I wasn't traveling. I may have to take it back to the drawing board to see if this trip is actually achievable with my personal limitations. 

I just liked the idea of it. I think on my last fantasy run I was at like 8 cities for $12k. Considering each of these trips could potentially be like $2k rdtrp in economy class, it feel like a steal to get that for business class! 

So A Purple Life actually did a good job of breaking down which cards and points she used for award travel over the last couple of years. It didn't inspire me as much as I'd hoped. 

I think when there's the option of doing it all at once vs taking multiple trips a year and having to do all that planning every year, I choose the do-it-all at once. I guess I haven't fully bought into it as a hobby. 

But for now this will probably remain as a fantasy unless I can figure out housing. Outside of AirBnb, there are just regular hotels which all of a sudden seem so much smaller and confined when you've been browsing whole apartments!

So that was my weekend. I've noticed my left wrist now gets a bit sore after being on the laptop for like an hour or so. Not good. I will now have 2 dysfunctional wrists. 

I'm excited to have a plan for my credit cards and can keep that out of mind for like 5 months. I'm excited for my new bank bonuses, and can't believe I've been in the game for long enough to actually be able to churn bonuses I already had before! I'm old.

This was my first weekend without FaceTime and I didn't even notice. Outside of looming work stress, it was a pretty chill weekend by myself.

Still have mild symptoms like cough and mucus.

I wish I could work from bed today but I have way too much to do. Usually I would be motivated to get started but here I am. 

I give myself permission to treat myself at the end of today or tomorrow if I need extra motivation - so that means I can get gas and get something yummy for dinner; or run an errand; alright, let's try to knock this out in the next 4 hours.