I’m Losing the Battle (but Not the War)

Despite my best efforts at maintaining self-care, I have let it slip.  I did well last semester but this semester is just plain kicking my butt!  My day-to-day schedule is so busy I don’t often find time for homework or housework, let alone relaxation or recreation.  I notice it in my poor attitude and low energy level.  I notice it in my weary reflection in the mirror and my irritable thoughts.  I notice it when 8 hours of sleep isn’t enough, and when I catch myself slouching into a terrible posture.  The circles under my eyes are unmistakable.  I am a grouchy grad student.

This sort of burnout is ever so sneaky.  Every day I get a little more exhausted.  My to-do list gets longer and longer.  Every skipped meal leads to unhealthy snacks, each forfeited hike makes the next one less likely.  More coffee leads to less sleep and less sleep leads to more coffee.  Grumbling begets more grumbling.  I have lost the battle for balance this semester, and I’m only a month in!

I may be losing this battle but I’m confident I will win the war.  I genuinely love everything I do, I just need to do a little less of it!  After this semester of grad school I will have a lot more breathing room.  I will once again be able to schedule time for fun from week to week.  There is light at the end of the tunnel.  There’s also an escape hatch in the middle: next week I will take a short vacation to sunny Mexico!  I can’t wait to get away and slow down; the timing couldn’t be better.

I’ll be sure to share photos from the trip. In the meantime, I have managed to keep my resolution to take a photo a week so far this year; January is posted below!

Week 1 – Vancouver and the North Shore Mountains

Week 2 – Winter berry

Week 3 – A rare snowfall in Victoria

Week 4 – A winter bird soaking up the sun.