scijessreads

The end of the semester is near (so close, yet so far in terms of just how much there is to finish and turn in, even on my end of things). And as a few months of blissful summer laziness draw forward, I am in a mood to change things up for myself. Somehow, in these last few months, I’ve let A LOT of personal stuff slide as I focused on work. The only thing that I kept up for myself is reading, which is seriously my decompression time these days.

Sleep has been all over the place, and working out has been relegated to a couple times a week if I’m lucky. No longer are 4 am alarms something I can deal with, since I’m falling asleep later than I used to. What I need is consistency again. I thrive in a schedule and knowing what is going to happen. I like spontaneity, but not all the damn time. My personality is very much like a cat that way. I like things a certain way, and if they get out of place then my mind gets agitated and restless, and can’t focus.

So, my challenge for this summer season is finding a routine again. One that I can adapt to the academic year relatively easily, so I at least have a chance to keep it up when work comes back in full force. Step 1 is finding exercise again. Some of which has to be outdoors. Hiking feels like a distant memory at the moment. And as much as I love CrossFit, adding in sporadic yoga lately has been very much a refreshing surprise, and I want to keep it in the rotation. Maybe I need to find a race to train for again, to give me a concrete goal to work toward.

Step 2 is finally buckling down on meal prep and planning. Starbucks should not be my daily breakfast (for many reasons). I need to tattoo the damn phrase “You have food and coffee at home” to my body.

And Step 3 is to pursue my other likes and hobbies like I do reading. I bought a sketchpad and charcoals on impulse the other day at Target. Growing up, I would draw almost as much as I would read. I would write too. For now, I think that itch is going to be scratched by writing here more often. So, a more regular posting schedule here beyond the book reviews is going to be happening. Not immediately (there is still a week of work to get through), but soon.

Now fully in my 40’s (I don’t feel 41 AT ALL, but here I am), I’m ready for a revamp. Not quite a midlife crisis, but more a midlife course correction. I may be 41, but there is still a lot of life left to live, and I want to make the most of it. Even if I am an introverted hermit that would rather stay home than go out. Even then, there is a lot left to do. Time to embrace age and experience, as well as learn a whole lot of new things. I know myself, and what I like. I also know that sometimes putting a toe outside of my comfort zone can be a good thing.