Things Going Well

Grades are in.  I feel ready for the Joint Mathematics Meetings, including progress on my talk.  Now that I'm not chair this period is remarkably stress-free.

Still feel constrained---colonoscopy yesterday, setting up orthodontist visit for son, other appointments---wish I actually had a clear schedule.

Still---it has been worse and I'm grateful that it's better.

Mid-Finals

Two final exams given and graded.  So far only a couple disappointed students, no actual anger just sadness.  One more final exam to give and grade.

The exams do give closure to the term.  Now is the time to focus on things that take attention between terms and to start to look ahead to prepare for the next term.

As happens every year, I feel a mess physically though not too bad mentally.  Body aches something awful.

Classes Ending

I think I'll make it.  I don't know why that's ever in doubt.  I've been teaching for decades now, and I've never not made it.  Sometimes the results are not what I hoped for, but nothing bad has happened.

So, I've got my last class preparation done, grading is current, I'm getting my final exams written, I've had a paper accepted.  For whatever reason I seem to have this crisis mentality driving me.  It would be healthier if I could maintain my productivity without it.  More truthful---I really don't deal with many crises.

End Days

The period after Thanksgiving Break is when all must come to a conclusion.  So many trade-offs in terms of content. It will fly by.

Extreme Fatigue

Our choral concert and the accompanying dress rehearsal were this week, along with a lot of grading for my classes.  I have hit a new low in sleep deprivation, but seem to be surviving.

I do keep myself pretty well-organized, so I've still been functional at work.  My body aches something awful though, to the point where it disrupts what little sleep I get.

This coming week should ease up a bit, with the Thanksgiving holiday.  I may not make up the lost rest but I shouldn't lose much more.

Speeding Toward the End

We're entering the second full week of November, and there's not much time left in our semester.  A week and a half until Thanksgiving Break, and then another week and a half of classes after that.

It's comforting to know that my schedule will ease up a bit soon, but I do feel the pressure of all that I had hoped to achieve this semester that remains undone.

Very few external burdens---my stressors are of my own creation.  Knowing that doesn't seem to help me to change much.  I can be very flexible about implementing my objectives but not about the objectives themselves, apparently.

Home Alone

My family is out of town for the weekend.  I've still spent most of my time doing schoolwork, so it's not like I've partied.  (I can't remember ever partying, come to think of it.  I'm pretty sober overall.)

So I'm still worn out physically and mentally.  I need to change my workload (lessen it, that is).