I'm feeling less overwhelmed than I was about a month ago, largely I think because there's a lull in committee work. And I turned in my annual review materials (which took about the equivalent of a whole work day to fit in). And we're down one major event.
I am frankly in denial about Feb 10-20, which includes, among other things, a child's birthday, a sleepover, a reading/workshop thing, a trip to see The Sound of Music, and President's Day which means MINIMAL CHILDCARE. Plus probably some on campus interviews for that search committee. But like I said, denial.
*
Here's where I am in terms of all the spectacular plans for 2016:
1. The plan to lose 5 pounds: This is a moving target. My weight went up around the holidays and then went back down. But that was still higher than I'm comfortable with. I am now eating salads every day for lunch, only letting myself have sweet things in the evening, and no sugar in any beverage other than morning coffee. These changes are minimal. But really at this point I only want to lose another 2-4 pounds total. So minimal is fine.
2. The plan to exercise every day: this has not happened, mostly because I got sick (ongoing) and didn't want to leave my bed, much less take a long walk. Although I had a rocky start, I'm sticking with YogaGlo, though. I don't know exactly why, other than the fact that I've paid for it, that I'm more likely to do even 5 minutes of yoga if I get to follow a teacher vs. coming up with it on my own. But it's making me accountable in a small way. I also realized it's helpful for me to have different kinds of exercise (walking, yoga, dance) for different kinds of days. I need to do something about this realization.
[okay, that was 5 minutes....continued roughly 7 hours later]
3. The plan to spend quality time with the kids: A work in progress, thwarted by them more than me (i.e. LG doesn't get her stuff done so our time is cut short). But I do read to Tiny Boy every morning, and LG and I have been doing 1000-piece puzzles (we're on the third, with one repeat). I think one day per week (Thursdays?) I'm going to start taking him for a bagel on the way to school.
4. The plan to read in the morning: yes! Now instead of opening my browser while I drink my coffee, I read. Mostly poems. Some memoir-type nonfiction. Overall this has been a great switch for my morning routine.
5. The plan to limit email: yes! While I have gotten derailed on a few occasions (i.e. emailing back and forth with my former diss director about a project) I have mostly limited email to a couple times per day. I could be even more regimented about this.
I feel like there's another plan in the works, but I'm not remembering what it is at the moment. Oh, next step: fine-tuning my after-LG-goes-to-bed time. Theoretically I read and then watch a short something on Netflix and go to bed. In practical terms I am starting to watch multiple somethings before getting sleepy, which I think has to do with the timing of taking Lunesta (it doesn't hit me as fast as it used to) as well as being generally more well rested. And that's a good thing indeed.
I am frankly in denial about Feb 10-20, which includes, among other things, a child's birthday, a sleepover, a reading/workshop thing, a trip to see The Sound of Music, and President's Day which means MINIMAL CHILDCARE. Plus probably some on campus interviews for that search committee. But like I said, denial.
*
Here's where I am in terms of all the spectacular plans for 2016:
1. The plan to lose 5 pounds: This is a moving target. My weight went up around the holidays and then went back down. But that was still higher than I'm comfortable with. I am now eating salads every day for lunch, only letting myself have sweet things in the evening, and no sugar in any beverage other than morning coffee. These changes are minimal. But really at this point I only want to lose another 2-4 pounds total. So minimal is fine.
2. The plan to exercise every day: this has not happened, mostly because I got sick (ongoing) and didn't want to leave my bed, much less take a long walk. Although I had a rocky start, I'm sticking with YogaGlo, though. I don't know exactly why, other than the fact that I've paid for it, that I'm more likely to do even 5 minutes of yoga if I get to follow a teacher vs. coming up with it on my own. But it's making me accountable in a small way. I also realized it's helpful for me to have different kinds of exercise (walking, yoga, dance) for different kinds of days. I need to do something about this realization.
[okay, that was 5 minutes....continued roughly 7 hours later]
3. The plan to spend quality time with the kids: A work in progress, thwarted by them more than me (i.e. LG doesn't get her stuff done so our time is cut short). But I do read to Tiny Boy every morning, and LG and I have been doing 1000-piece puzzles (we're on the third, with one repeat). I think one day per week (Thursdays?) I'm going to start taking him for a bagel on the way to school.
4. The plan to read in the morning: yes! Now instead of opening my browser while I drink my coffee, I read. Mostly poems. Some memoir-type nonfiction. Overall this has been a great switch for my morning routine.
5. The plan to limit email: yes! While I have gotten derailed on a few occasions (i.e. emailing back and forth with my former diss director about a project) I have mostly limited email to a couple times per day. I could be even more regimented about this.
I feel like there's another plan in the works, but I'm not remembering what it is at the moment. Oh, next step: fine-tuning my after-LG-goes-to-bed time. Theoretically I read and then watch a short something on Netflix and go to bed. In practical terms I am starting to watch multiple somethings before getting sleepy, which I think has to do with the timing of taking Lunesta (it doesn't hit me as fast as it used to) as well as being generally more well rested. And that's a good thing indeed.
