I've just about recovered from the shock of re-entry after a month away. Getting back home wasn't too shocking -- Bob did a fine job of holding things together -- but getting back to work was not a smooth landing. For one client, things went fine. I had two three-hour sessions booked in my first week back with very specific objectives and a team ready to focus on them. For another client, a project I had left in its ramp-up stage was almost unrecognizable and approaching chaotic. It wasn't something I had been leading anyway, so my absence wasn't a factor (not my fault, really!).

Getting myself focused on the client work has been the real problem. While I was away, I had time to daydream about my own project ideas and those are still percolating in my brain looking for a place to develop into realities. When I turn to client work, I resent abandoning my pet projects; yet if I try to give my projects some think time, I worry about the client commitments.

This week, I started tackling the problem in a couple of ways. The first tactic was to try to take a walk in the middle of the day. The fresh air (and today it was VERY fresh, and wet) and exercise feels good and I get 20 minutes with the freedom to think about anything, or nothing. The second tactic was to try every day to do three things that improve my space. That can be anything from emptying another packed box (from last year's move!) to taking out the garbage. Giving priority to the quality of my surroundings is one way to remind myself that I'm glad to be home.