I've been living with chronic back pain for nearly 4 years now.

Some days are better than others.....

Some days I can't feel my right leg below the knee - other days I can.

Some days I can't think straight for the headaches - other days I'm a clear as a bell.

Some days I have to take pain meds every 4 hours - other days I don't have to take them for days at a stretch (I really like those days).

My love - designing jewellery - requires that I sit down for periods of time.  Whether it be while I'm creating a piece, doing associated paperwork or working online - I tend to spend quite a deal of my day at my bench.

For me this isn't so good - it adds to the compression on my nerve, which adds to my pain and loss of sensation.

I love my work, so how do I deal with my chronic back pain?

My kitchen timer reminds me to get up and stretch.  This is a habit that anyone working and sitting for long periods at a desk should adopt.

Depending on my day and pain levels, my timer is set for anywhere from 15 to 30 minutes.  Every now and again (I'll be honest here) I ignore that confounded thing and work past my time limit.  I always regret it, as I'm then very sore and wish I had of gotten up.  I've found the best way of getting around this is to place the timer on the other side of the room.  That way, when it goes off I have to get up, otherwise it just keeps on beeping and annoys the cr@p out of me!!

My family (bless their boots) gave me a kneeling chair for my birthday last year.  The kneeling chair helps to reduce some of the pressure on my lower back.  And it's not hard on your knees at all!

When the buzzer goes off, I get up and do some of my stretches that the physiotherapist has given me for my back.  Prior to my injury (and in the months after) I couldn't manage a single sit-up.  Now I average between 30 to 50 a day - I love having a core!

And then there is giving myself a break.

Not, as in the time break, but the break that if my pain is too great and I can't concentrate on what I would like to be doing, I give myself permission to have the day off.

I tell myself that there are others in the world far worse off than I am, and that I am blessed to have such a supportive husband and children - and I have the opportunity to do what I love.

Please share your story here.  It is always inspiring to know that other creative individuals can make pieces of beauty, despite sometimes difficult circumstances.

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I love my hands because they are creative hands.  Hands that can provide women with beautiful jewellery that delights their eyes.  Hands that doodle and draw, that paint and cut and colour.

I love my hands because they hold the hands of my children.  Walking along or simply sitting, we link fingers and are one again.

I love my hands because they hold up the book I am reading and turn its pages.  My books are my escape, my sanctuary from the everyday.

I love my hands because they hold my camera.  Seeing the world in detail is a delight - and to capture that image forever is a thing that brings me joy.

I love my hands because my nails are growing strong.  Which tells me that I am in good health - and after being in only so-so health for so long - makes me very, very happy.

Why do you love your hands?

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Routines.

You either love them or hate them. But with a family to organise and a micro-business to run, I couldn't live without one.

We're back today for Term 4 of school.  Which means we are back in the School Routine.

Up at 6:30, for half an hour of online work.  Then it's time to make breakfast, call the family to eat and then get ready for our respective school and work days.  Shoes on at 8:30 and out the door.

The middle of the day is a little more flexible, but each day has a set of work/business-related tasks to be complete on that day, plus a small list of other tasks I need to get done.  It's squeezed in around my aide-work at school, but generally everything on the lists gets done.  (I think the secret here is to make the list achievable!)

The back end of the day is similar to the start.

Dog and I greet kids off the bus, empty school bags and up to the table for an afternoon snack, homework and daily debrief.  Then it's afternoon chores and free time until showers and dinner are called.

It makes for an organised and predictable day in our house (during Term as least).  But everyone knows what to expect and what is expected of them.

Sure, things can get crazy-busy-hectic and quite often do.

I do think that regardless of routine though, you need to also be flexible.

Things are going to happen to make it all go pear-shaped.  And when things go pear-shaped, you need to be able to deal.

I happened across this blog - Daily Routines: How writers, artists and other interesting people organize their days - it's always interesting to see how other Creatives structure their day.

So, do you follow a routine?

Or you more a 'go-with-the-flow' type?

Share your routine (or lack there-of!) with me here... like I said, it's always interesting to see how other Creatives/Mums/Business Owners/People (pick which-ever is applicable to you) structure their day...

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