I am now ready to start my 'Open University' studies.
My Study, come bedroom, come gym is set up. On one end of the room is a large leather sofa bed. I use the sofa when reading and the bed for guests.
I have sciatica and I have lost the feeling to parts of my foot recently so am keen to make sure I do as much as possible to stop it getting worse. I also have high cholesterol so lots of sweaty heart pumping exercise is, I am reliably informed, the best defence against stroke or heart attack. The gym is therefore a major part of the study layout.
The gym consists of an exercise bike on which I sit and peddle nowhere whilst watching programmes on the computer or listening to podcasts. I have one of those large rubber balls for back and stomach exercise which normally lives under the desk and doubles as a foot rest. In the corner of the room I have some barbells for upper body workouts. My 'Ikea' desk is small and really a table but big enough to hold my laptop, keyboard and a linked large screen. I use both screens. One to read the other to take notes. Beside the sofa there is an 'Ikea' bookcase overflowing with a large selection of books and more piled against the wall to the side of it.
There are two windows in my study and I look out over my street which is a main walking route from my estate to the town centre. Even so, it is normally quiet and empty. The study is south facing and when the sun shines I have to close the curtain on the window by the desk. This does not happen too often in the UK.
My planned routine is to rise about 07:00 make a light breakfast and have an hour exercise. Then shower and dress. Afterwards it is time to check emails and any updates on the OU Forums, responding where necessary. The next two hours or so I devote to study.
All this seems ideal, but I do have to find a part time job to enhance my pension so my routine will probably change if I find one.