Extremophile: an organism that lives under extreme environmental conditions.
That pretty much explains my new normal as of last week.
My course is in full swing, with registration (~400 students have been enrolled, but I'm still mediating section changes), finalizing employment of teaching assistants, navigating administrative logistics and then the standard things that come with a course (writing practice problems, reviewed a practice quiz, preparing all of them for Quiz #1 and navigating lecture).
Normally all of this would be good stress. But add in Grey being laid off, bad news about taxes (because unlike our current president, Grey and I do pay them) and 2 full months of being sick and it's been just too much.
I often wonder what happens to people when they live in bad stress for too long. People around them certainly don't tolerate hearing about it (I laughed after getting the "just relax" and "maybe you need a vacation" comments). But it's also clear that when things are bad for too long, things start to give.
Today Grey has a phone interview. His meetings from last week have already yielded a positive lead on a new position (the new company is waiting on money). So there's hope, even though hope and I don't always see eye-to-eye. Still I'm very tired of all of this.
That sounds really stressful. Hoping you get through the next few weeks and it gets better. When I have to deal with a lot of stress I go back to basics and kind of hide: no trying anything new or risk taking. Come to think of it, my choices this year are probably a reaction to events of last year. In any case, I think you try to survive. Whatever that looks like.
ReplyDeleteIf you live in bad stress for too long you risk burnout, I think. I hope things smooth out for you. Extremophile - thanks for the new word
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry. This is so so so hard, especially because as you get one thing on track, another goes off track. You need so much more than a day off. Is there anyway to get a few hours to have dinner with a friend? Emotionally recharge enough to get through the end of the week?
ReplyDeleteYou are amazing. You have resiliency and tenacity that few people ever have to develop. I don't know what to say, except for that I'm here for you.
ReplyDeleteAlso, screw taxes.
Ugh, taxes. I'm so sorry things are so hard. It seems like a whack-a-mole -- something goes well and goes up as something else gets whacked back down. I hope for better days to come, a good interview for Grey, patience to get through the "just relax" comments that probably make you want to stick a fork in someone's eye. That's my go-to. (In my head, not reality. It's very satisfying to stick virtual forks in people's eyes in my head, even though I have a thing with eyes.) I hope the days look up. So much stress is hard to take. It sucks that people "tolerate" it rather than hold you up. Thinking of you and sending you big hugs to get through the week.
ReplyDeleteI hope this is all resolved for you soon. As if two months of being sick isn't enough - it would just about do me in. I hope you can find some time to do some self care. Or just sleep. Sending hugs.
ReplyDeleteIt's such a crappy time of year generally, plus the political situation... no wonder you are feeling stressed. Sending (((hugs))) & positive vibes for things to improve soon.
ReplyDeleteI hope you are all on the mend by now. It's hard to get zapped from so many angles. My thoughts are with Grey and that company getting financing. I know what you mean about Hope. She's so fickle, unreliable.
ReplyDeletexoxo
So stressful. I'm hoping this pans out for Grey and you can get back to some good old fashioned "good stress." ;)
ReplyDeleteI can feel the stress! So hope that things are getting better and more manageable...
ReplyDeleteStress for too long... I think humans are amazing resilient, but so much suffers when we are under sustained stress. I feel like I’m just emerging from this state...
ReplyDelete