I Guess It Could Be Worse

Can we just talk about how insane this week has been??

First things first, I've been super busy at my full-time job (why is everyone selling their houses this week??)
I cannot even tell you how many brochures and postcards and flyers (Oh my!) hat I have made for our agents this week. Plus, I'm taking over some of the corporate marketing since another marketing production assistant is going part-time. This week has been CRAZY.

Then there's the fact that I've been trying to get better about eating at home, so every night when I come home I spend probably an hour cooking when I would usually be relaxing on my sofa with a quesarito. And that relaxation would be accompanied by a few hours of watching The Big Bang Theory Re-Runs.
Well, NOT ANYMORE!
My roommate and I recently decided to get rid of cable, so every time I turn on the television I get a screen full of fuzz and a heart full of disappointment.
But don't worry too much. We might be getting Directv by the end of the month!

To make all of this even worse (is that even possible??) I started coming down with something Wednesday.
And it has progressively gotten worse and worse and today I feel like death.
Hopefully I'll be able to make a doctor's appointment for when I get off work.
One of my lovely friends agreed to cover my shift at Mellow Mushroom so I can go! Hooray!

My focus for next week?
Less stress.
More relaxation.
Less sickness.

Let's hope I can see it through!

Be a "Well Woman"

In case you haven't heard, this week is the National Women's Health Week!

It's almost over, but it's never too late to make a pledge to yourself to become healthier!

I myself have pledged 2 things:

1. Pay attention to my mental health
2. Get active

I hope to pay more attention to my mental health by getting more sleep and by trying to better manage my stress. 

The sleep one is probably going to be especially difficult for me, since I've got moderate insomnia and usually only get about 4.5 hours a night. Sleeping more is going to really throw off my schedule. But that should, in the end, help with the managing stress thing!

I'm also going to be constantly reminding myself that I cannot possible do everything and that is okay. I'm going to make a manageable to do list and if, somehow it does not get done, I will remind myself that it is not the end of the world!

As for the get active part, that's going to be quite a struggle. I'm not going to lie to you: I'm pretty lazy. I used to do at least 10 minutes of blogilates every morning, but it's been a while. And I tried to running thing, but I'm not really a fan.

But I'm going to try it again (okay, maybe I'm going to try walking first.)

I've downloaded the Couch-to-5k app from RunDouble, I have my alarm set for my usual 5am, and I am more motivated than ever! 

I want to look good in my bikini for my cruise in July (Eeek, so excited!) and so I'd like to lose at least 5 pounds. I have 2 months and some determination, so I know that I can DO THIS! 

And the two pledges/goals will apparently help each other out, too!

I've been told that getting regular exercise actual reduces stress levels AND can help you sleep better, so I'm excited! And sleeping obviously helps build energy for exercise, so there's that.

Let's just say that I am super excited about these pledges I've made and the changes I am making in my life! I can't wait to see what I can do and the person I can become. 

Has anyone else made a pledge for Women's Health Week? Or just a general goal you've set for yourself? I'd love to hear about it, and it would be absolutely fabulous to get some inspiration!!

Life is Hard

I don't think there has ever been a more true statement.

It's not like I'm just realizing this, of course; I've known for quite some time. It's just that some times you let that realization slip into the back of your mind until something brings it to the front again.

Like finals. My last finals.
It's a little terrifying and preparing for them is completely taking over my life.

I'm taking 21 hours this semester (WHY??), so I have finals for 7 classes.
SEVEN.
Thank God they're not all actual exams, but still.
I have papers, presentations, projects, exams, on top of trying to find a big-girl job, working at my internship, and completing activities for Chi Omega and my other organizations.

It's a lot to handle, and it hit me just how much this all has been affecting me when I took the time to look at my room this morning.

It is a MESS. Honestly, it looks like my room exploded.
Which is a big deal, because I HATE MESSES! If everything is not in its place, I almost have a panic attack. And I wish I was kidding.

I have dirty clothes all over the place, bags just piled on the floor, my shoes are strewn across the room, and I have clean towels in my hamper that I haven't even considered folding.

My life has just been so busy and stressful lately that I let my room get this bad, and now it's making me even more stressed and I know I have to take time out of my day to clean this. If I don't, it'll kill me.

But when will I have the time? Everything is due this week and next! I just don't know how I'm going to make enough time to get my room clean enough for me to handle it, but I also know that if I don't I won't be able to focus on anything that I do!!

Does anyone have any suggestions for managing my time for cleaning, working, and doing school work?
Because that would be a GREAT help. And I'd probably love you forever.

Playing Catch Up

I've been so busy with work things, and school things, and after-graduation things lately, that I haven't had time to do any of the things that I actually want to do. I haven't had me-time.

There are just so many things that help keep me sane: reading, watching Netflix, taking a bubble bath, listening to music, painting my nails; I could go on. I haven't allowed time in my schedule recently for much of it, except reading—I always make sure to read before bed.

Obviously, it's resulted in a stressed out, overworked version of me that is not very pleasant.

So, this weekend, I have vowed to myself to play catch up on the relaxation that I've missed. I am scheduling time for myself, rather than for everyone else, and I am ensuring this me-time is high on my list of priorities.

Here's what I plan on doing for myself this weekend:

1. Start Mad Men
2. Watch new Game of Thrones episode
3. Take a bubble bath
4. Finish Tina Fey's Bossypants
5. Paint my nails (still deciding on gold or coral nail polish....)
6. Take the time to enjoy music (I partially succeeded at this today. One of my best friends had his senior recital and it was beautiful. If you're not a fan of the cello, you definitely would have been after hearing his recital.)

No matter what, I am going to let myself relax and do these things this weekend. I need it for myself, and I'm pretty sure everyone around me will find me a little bit more enjoyable when I'm not so stressed over everything. 

Does anyone have any relaxation tips that I should try?