Hi hi hi! Happy Friday to you. I’m sorry I missed you yesterday, but this week has been full of frantic studying for my double midterms yesterday. And, frankly, right now I should probably be writing a mini-essay for Ancient Empires, but that’s getting put off until this morning because I wanted to say hello and hear your lovely voices read about your lovely weeks.
Oh, and I want to thank you for your sharing your support and kind words and experiences on Monday. You’re the best, and I’m excited to respond to your comments this weekend. I’m definitely glad I quit, but I also kinda swung in the other direction and have probably eaten more cereal this week than vegetables. It happens.
Since next week isn’t crazy midterms week, I’m hoping everything will normalize a little bit. We shall see. Now, let’s take a look at the best things from the week.
Amazon Prime Now
I have been having the worst time sleeping. The worst. I’ve tried all sorts of things, from meditation and breathing exercises to getting up and reading to yoga to just lying calmly in bed watching Netflix. Nothing has worked. I also haven’t had the time to go to the store this week to try anything new. Because Amazon Prime Now is the best, though, I was able to order melatonin, which I haven’t taken in years, lavender essential oil, and two kinds of sleepy tea and get them all delivered Wednesday morning to try to get this under control. Four hours (and under) a night does not cut it for this girl. Taking all sleep tips!
Skullcandy Method Earbuds
These freaking rock. I was a fan of the old Apple earbuds, but mine stopped working last week. I also hate the new Apple earbuds. I asked my mom what she uses and she sent me some. They do a really good job canceling outside noise, which is great at the gym, and they actually stay in my ears. Also, they’re comfy enough to sleep in, if you need that. (I do.)
New yoga things
One of the yoga teachers I did my teacher training with (the one who does essential oils classes!) taught a really fun yoga class yesterday centered on interoception, which is about focusing on what you feel happening in your body. We did a mix of slow stretches, self massage, and fast flows, and she encouraged us to practice as much as possible (and safe) with our eyes closed. It was a really good, engaging class, and I had fun nerd-ing out with her afterward about mindfulness and the like.
Doable exams
First, let me just say that I’m really looking forward to doing my graduation reflection post(s) in a year because I have a lot of little things to say that UChicago has taught me and that I’ve experienced here. This is a little insight into one of those points.
A typical econ exam has an average grade that’s between about 50% and 70%. So, even though I do relatively well, I do objectively… not. I also often do lots of things I never imagined doing on exams 3 years ago. That is, I leave things blank, I write down sketchy explanations of what I think you maybe do, or I write the first line of a problem to show that I kinda know what it’s asking, but I have no idea what follows. It is not a fun experience, but it’s been humbling.
Yesterday was, I believe, the first time I have actually looked at an econ exam and felt like I had the proper knowledge to do the whole thing. I’m going to guess I still did relatively average, but it feels really nice to be able to complete a test.
And my second exam yesterday was a whole different category of exam, but it was also doable.
A free weekend
Because I had econ midterms yesterday, I don’t have econ homework this week. My next midterm isn’t until next Thursday. I do have some reading and writing to do for creative writing this weekend, but mostly, I’m free. I’m planning a long run for Saturday, plus probably some shopping and a massage, some work and yoga on Sunday, and some kitchen time in the mix. I’ve done a crappy job taking care of myself this week, but I’m hoping the weekend starts to make up for it.
I’m excited.
Your turn:
How has your week been? What are you loving?
What’s one thing you’ll do to take care of yourself this weekend?
Girl, I hope you get some sleep. One of us should, and I am going to give my sleep to you because you’re in school and all that. Have fun this weekend!
You need rest, too, my friend ❤️
Your weekend plans sound identical to mine! Throw in the Super Bowl and they’d be identical. Amazon Prime is so dangerously awesome. And good idea to get lavender—that and magnesium help me a lot.
I LOVE magnesium and have just added some lavender. And whoa was the Super Bowl crazy or what?
I have a hard time sleeping when I go back to school after breaks. What helped me was renting ebooks on my kindle from my local library. I get fun, easy to read chick lit and read it on my kindle on the “night mode” so it reduces blue light. I also often drink a cup of peppermint tea because my stomach acts up if I get stressed, which keeps me up at night. I sleep well without melatonin now.
Reading is a great idea! I’ll give that a try!
meditate before bed! there are helpful videos on youtube for this. try reading before bed too, and for essential oils lavender should help! that’s the one I use 🙂 I diffuse that while I am trying to go to sleep! hope you have a good weekend 🙂
I bought some lavender! Thanks for the suggestion 🙂
Oh wow Ellen; I’m so sorry sleep has not been happening much lately; that happens sometimes for me. I often meditate on a verse or pray if I’m struggling with sleep. Sometimes it actually helps me to read a good book till I get so sleepy and then I just drop right off to sleep.
I hope you have a really restful weekend.
Reading is a good idea! I should try that sometime!
This week has definitely been full of ups and downs for me. It’s really hitting me that I actually graduated college, and let’s just say that the transition into adulthood is a bumpy ride. But I went on an epic hike on my own last Wednesday, and I definitely want to do the same this weekend. And I’m so sorry about your sleep troubles. Insomnia is one of the symptoms of fibromyalgia and I’ve been on sleeping pills since age 10. Let’s just say that the few nights i forget them are…brutal!
Oooh a solo hike sounds so nice.
Ugh. I relate to the pain. I have myofascial pain syndrome (which is apparently likely to eventually become all-out fibromyalgia if it hasn’t already). It definitely makes everything a little harder. Hope this week was better for you, girl!
I hope your study is going well, girl! It sounds like you are busy busy busy!
Lately I have been loving doing new things – seeing a lion dance for Chinese New Year, heading out to explore new places and taking an unplanned road trip just to spend extra time with Jesse!
That sounds like such a fun time! Hope you had fun on your little road trip!