(no subject)
Whenever my life starts to feel too chaotic, cleaning makes me feel better. I don't mean an obsessive, wash-my-hands-30-times kind of cleaning*, but more of a, "I need to feel accomplished somewhere in my life, so I'm going to start with laundry."
Staring at a pile of books in preparation for an excruciating exam can be discouraging, and can make an even somewhat intelligent person feel stupid. The anxiety of needing to pass is so high that I'm perpetually halfway to a panic attack. My family isn't exactly the supportive type, but at least I have a family (I had a lot of clients who came from truly horrific families, or had been on their own for years)?
As a response to the stress, I've thought about healthy coping mechanisms. I don't want my hair to start falling out [again], or to gain 10 pounds because I've started eating my feelings [again]. Alternatively, I don't want to lose 10 pounds because I've stopped eating [again].
Activities like exercising, cleaning, making lists so I don't feel like I'm wandering in an abyss of tasks, making dinner regularly-- these things give me a break from the behemoth of studying for the Bar.
Last night, I:
bought a planner (used it today!)
dusted
changed my sheets (yay flannel sheets)
did a load of laundry (even put some away!)
did some yoga (I've been slacking in this department)
Unrelated to all of that, but I'm not a Christmas-y person. In fact, I find the period from Thanksgiving through New Years a bit depressing. The consumerism, excessive glitziness, and political correctness of it all grates on my soul. In spite of that, A Charlie Brown Christmas soundtrack by the Vince Guaraldi Trio is a super great jazz album.
What Child is ThisIs one of the hippest, jazziest Christmas songs I have ever heard.
*I'm making a joke here, but I know someone with fairly severe OCD. Until he got treatment, I saw it take over his life.
Staring at a pile of books in preparation for an excruciating exam can be discouraging, and can make an even somewhat intelligent person feel stupid. The anxiety of needing to pass is so high that I'm perpetually halfway to a panic attack. My family isn't exactly the supportive type, but at least I have a family (I had a lot of clients who came from truly horrific families, or had been on their own for years)?
As a response to the stress, I've thought about healthy coping mechanisms. I don't want my hair to start falling out [again], or to gain 10 pounds because I've started eating my feelings [again]. Alternatively, I don't want to lose 10 pounds because I've stopped eating [again].
Activities like exercising, cleaning, making lists so I don't feel like I'm wandering in an abyss of tasks, making dinner regularly-- these things give me a break from the behemoth of studying for the Bar.
Last night, I:
bought a planner (used it today!)
dusted
changed my sheets (yay flannel sheets)
did a load of laundry (even put some away!)
did some yoga (I've been slacking in this department)
Unrelated to all of that, but I'm not a Christmas-y person. In fact, I find the period from Thanksgiving through New Years a bit depressing. The consumerism, excessive glitziness, and political correctness of it all grates on my soul. In spite of that, A Charlie Brown Christmas soundtrack by the Vince Guaraldi Trio is a super great jazz album.
What Child is ThisIs one of the hippest, jazziest Christmas songs I have ever heard.
*I'm making a joke here, but I know someone with fairly severe OCD. Until he got treatment, I saw it take over his life.