And so...

I know I always talk about school and how hectic it is, so perhaps it's time to talk about what gets me through the mayhem these days. When I was in undergrad, I had a "me" chair. In this lovely papasan and ottoman, whose color and decorative photos were my favorites, I only did things I enjoyed-- napped, chatted on the phone, read for fun. I refused to do school work or anything that was not enjoyable. Said chair is currently at home in storage with dad's cat's hair covering it, no telling where the cute pillow is, much less the frame. I believe it needs to make a return. So without that beloved piece of furniture...

• I've tried self-reflection through clearing specific time to think. Making even a few minutes along a walk between buildings is helpful for perspective. I have a cousin I talk with a lot who went through similar stuff that I juggle.
  
• I sometimes find myself driving with the radio off in order to give my brain some space.
• When the radio is on, however, I can't seem to get enough of the oldies (especially Jackson Browne, Bruce Hornsby, ELO, Eagles... and the occasional Rihanna and other current chart-toppers.) A few months ago, Taylor Swift could not possibly have played any more often through my speakers. Seriously! Why don't artists these days sing with as much feel as they used to? Listen to the Mandolin Rain, listen to the music on the lake...
• I've been a fan of movies. Not that the 3-hr chunk necessary to enjoy them is common, as I've been to maybe two this semester, but I just want to sit in bed, pop one into the computer (still no TV :), and relax and be entertained.
• I wish there were anything on this earth I got half as excited about as little Rufus does with squirrels; he cannot be contained, goes abso crazy. It's really a refreshing reminder of nature.
• Girls' nights and ice cream dates have been fewer and farther between than I'd like to admit, but having people accessible for support is always a comfort!

The other thing I think about, after my girlfriend Christine recommended it, is instead of a "To Do" list, one stating how much has been accomplished. In a single semester, we've had a mixer with another school, an informal social event between first and second-year students, took part organizing a CEO speaker series, turned the school pink in honor of breast cancer awareness, put together a campus-wide food drive, participated in community service efforts, elected to serve on the search committee for a new dean of the school, presented in front of all faculty monthly, compiled teams for various intramural sports, partnered with the career center for an internal networking event, hosted a luncheon with the local office of an international consulting firm, tutored several students in their papers and presentations and had positive feedback, co-hosted an event with another field-specific student org, made progress on revamping our Web site, sponsored a Town Hall meeting for our grad students, hosted our own successful fundraiser... held a reception for students visiting from Ghana, surveyed students on what they want next semester and put the wheels in motion for several of their requests... Lordy, that isn't even all of it, much the weekly things. Not a bad list for 3 months! And the spring list is certainly ambitious to boot.

Perhaps more suggestions for how to survive the mayhem are necessary! How do you make it through?