Picture: a closeup of a head of broccoli growing in my garden.
This ‘flower’ turned out to be pretty tasty. I ate it for lunch on Saturday :) My goal, once the school pressure lets down a bit, is to eat one meal/day from the garden this summer. And I think I just might pull it off. :)
One of you, on your response to the pilgrimgirl survey, suggested that I should write about school more often. Hmmm….probably not going to happen. At least not anytime soon. Blogging is my escape from school. From the pressure that is building as my Qualifying Exams are looming. A respite from the many hours each day that I am reading, taking notes, writing mock responses to possible exam questions.
My other escapes from studying? The gym and the garden. Lifting weights does a lot to relieve the pressure. Sometimes I actually imagine myself pushing all the stress out through my arms as I’m bench pressing. It’s lovely to get that ‘release.’ The garden, well, that probably doesn’t need explaining. A few minutes with the sun shining on my face, getting dirt under my nails, running my hands through the lavender, well that’s a feeling so tangibly relaxing that it seems almost sinful.
How do you relax when life builds up on your shoulders?
I would really be interested in ideas you have for relaxing before bed. I find myself rehashing all I’ve studied the minute my head hits the pillow. Sleep is far distant and elusive. But at the same time I know sleep is what I most need during this stressful time…I also know that this stress is not an isolated thing, that academia is a path that will continue to be pressure-filled, as there will be deadlines, job talks, conferences, and all manner of difficulties that I need to get used to. I’m hoping that I can continue to build a storehouse of stress-relieving skills that will serve me now and on into the future….
5 comments
“How do you relax when life builds up on your shoulders?
I would really be interested in ideas you have for relaxing before bed.”
i find a bowl of ice cream works for me. and no, it’s not kosher to eat that ice cream while reading your notes or staring at your computer.
I used to like to do some light reading before bed. The problem was that my brain started associating reading with sleep, and now I often fall asleep when I read. Listening to some relaxing music is a great help, or doing some gentle stretching.
you know what other flowers are good for eating? nasturtiums. on salad. leaves and blossoms. very tasty.
dcb: if only I could learn to like ice cream, that just might work….I’m of the opinion that ice cream is only good when I’m eating the chunks out of John’s and he’s eating the cream part.
Okay, but I do make exception for ice cream with fresh peaches or blackberry cobbler. But I don’t have any of that around right now. :)
I practice guided meditation for at least 10 minutes every night before bead. I have been doing it for about 1 month and have noticed that I am falling asleep faster and sleeping better. You can find free guided meditations through various podcasts.
I also practice consioucs (spelling?) breathing (watching my breath, in and out for 10 minutes helps calm me)
I should note that I started doing all this becuase I suffer from both insomnia and anxiety, but it has been getting better.