Chapter 1: The Unforeseen Attachment

It wasn't until my laptop let me down that I realized just how dependent I had become on it. The incident occurred several days ago, and the warning signs had been evident. My laptop had been starting up sluggishly, and I was encountering error messages with alarming frequency. Yet, I chose to ignore these issues—an oversight I now regret. Ultimately, it reached a point where it simply refused to function.

Photo by Josefa nDiaz on Unsplash

In a panic, I took it to a repair shop, stressing that this was an urgent matter since I hadn’t published my article on Medium that day. The technicians greeted me with a look that said they had seen it all before. To them, my beloved laptop was just another device in for repairs. They assured me they would take a look within 24 hours. But let me tell you, that span felt like an eternity when you’re separated from something that brings you joy.

Section 1.1: A Morning Without My Device

My mornings became quite disorienting. I had never realized how much I cherished my routine of writing in the early hours. Without my laptop to capture my thoughts, I felt completely adrift. The absence of my regular morning ritual was unsettling. Adrienne Beaumont once mentioned that she manages everything, including writing, on her phone. However, I found the Medium app on my phone lacking; I could not access any of my drafts to refine or publish them.

The only thing I could manage was responding to comments and reading other stories, which quickly became tiresome on a small screen. My eyes were not pleased with the strain.

Subsection 1.1.1: The Limitations of Mobile Apps

Photo by Elisa Ventur on Unsplash

Ironically, one silver lining was the inability to constantly check my stats, which provided a brief respite from the usual pressures.

Section 1.2: Finding Solace in Puzzles

To keep my days from feeling entirely wasted, I turned to another passion of mine: jigsaw puzzles. Yes, I admit, I have a bit of an obsession. Once I start working on a puzzle, nothing else seems to matter, and it allowed me to forget about my laptop woes.

My half-finished puzzle — © image by author

Chapter 2: The Unexpected Outcome

After two days, I received the unfortunate news from the repair shop: they were unable to fix my laptop. I was devastated. I had not anticipated the need to purchase a new device, especially given the financial strain from my recent travels to New Zealand. My earnings from Medium had barely covered my coffee expenses, let alone a new laptop.

But what choice did I have? So here I am, typing on my new laptop, bidding farewell to my old, now unreliable companion. I look forward to returning to my regular morning writing routine. Yet, I still ponder the fate of my half-finished jigsaw puzzle.

© Bernie Pullen, All Rights Reserved

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Chapter 3: Reflections on Change

This video, "This morning routine changed my life - you need to try!" discusses transformative morning habits that can enhance your daily life.

In "The Morning Routine That Changed My Life | Get Ahead of 99% of People," you'll find insights into optimizing your mornings for success.