Work/ School Balance

I am really enjoying my classes. Truly, I am. They are engaging and interesting, and forcing me to write more. I enjoy writing. I enjoy reading. But here’s the thing. I have so much reading to do while also working a lot that I’m having trouble keeping up with everything. I’m making it, barely, but it’s wearing me out. I end up so exhausted by the end of the week that I can barely function. At least, that’s how it felt this weekend. On Thursday, I struggled to do 60/10. I said the answer was 10. I know what 60/10 is. My brain was on overload.

I did get thinking some. Maybe I’m sick. My body gives me signals when I’m sick, and I don’t normally listen to them. I usually keep pushing through until I can’t go anymore. My brain starts to have trouble with simple tasks, I’m exhausted, I’m cranky, etc. Well, I decided to not wait until I can’t go anymore. I’m close to that point, but not there yet. So, I went to the doctor and have a sinus infection (big shocker since I get them a few times per year). I’m on the mend, but still trying to function through schoolwork. Two doses of antibiotics, two nights of good sleep, and a nap later, I’m feeling better. After my nap yesterday, I actually felt a lot better.

Back to the reading. So my reading assignments due this week: Monday, a novel and read one person’s short story and critique, and read a short story and write up something short on it. For Thursday’s class, I have two short stories and three short stories that I have to critique. I also have to finish writing a 3-5 page short story, which I have 3/4 of a page written for it due Friday. Okay, doesn’t seem so bad, but add in working 40 hours and having to do my house stuff, like running the dishwasher, doing laundry, taking care of my fish, taking care of my dog, that kind of thing.

I’m very overwhelmed. I’m hoping I’ll be able to manage better as my body heals. When I get home from work, I’ve been too tired to focus, but being sick will cause that. I thought it was exhaustion from taking my night classes, which is a possibility. It’s a very real possibility.

Anyway, stepping back from my tangent. I have a lot of reading to do and I’m having to shift how I read. I’m looking at it from a more analytical viewpoint and it’s been a hard shift. I’m getting there. I’m getting used to it. I’m taking notes on what I’m reading, seeing patterns, seeing little things the author is trying to say or convey. I’m still new to this and by no means an expert, but I’m enjoying seeing the literature in a different way. I’m also used to analyzing older literature. Reading something by someone born 10 years before me is a little odd. Normally the writers are long gone when I read their works. It’s a shift, but a nice shift.

Well, we’ll see how the next week goes now that I’m on the mend.