Draining Myself
This fall has been interesting. Working toward getting out of the computer sector by getting an English and Religion degree is something I've been working on for awhile now (as noted in the linked post), but this was the first semester I was entirely devoted to this rather than meeting general education requirements and the like. Trying to balance obligations has been tough, and some less important projects that I normally work on as part of my business have gone by the way side… at least temporarily.
As I said a few weeks ago, business has been a bit slow, so I was focusing completely on papers. Since the beginning of November, I have probably written between 70-80 pages, about 60-62 on major papers. Now into finals week, I've written 28 pages in longhand over the past 24 hours over the course of six hours worth of exams (hey, that's 4.7 pages per hour). Now I hurt. I have the bad habit of gripping the pen very tightly when writing in such a manor, and my arm hurts from the bottom all the way to my shoulder. Even if I was not trying to work with clients and complete this course work, this has been the craziest semester of any kind, I've ever had. I've felt on the edge of insanity the last few weeks trying to get stuff done — I'm not the kind of person who likes to be working against the edge of a deadline. I feel completely drained.
But, I'm not complaining. It feels good. I can look back and I'm satisfied. I've spent the last four months immersing myself in the things that I love to spend time doing. It will be years before I am able to switch professions, who knows, I may never switch completely — but the point is I know that I am doing what I need to do; what I should have realized I needed to do a long time ago. If you can be so busy that you have no time to catch your breath and still be happy with what you are doing, that is an excellent indicator… I fit that to a “t” right now.
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RE: Draining Myself
I’ve taken enough history classes to know what you mean about hand cramps. In terms of raw space utilized, I suspect that I probably do more than your 4.7 pages / hour, but that’s only because my handwriting tends to be on the enormous side.
I’ve always liked the challenge of a deadline… but it’s also nice to have a little relaxation every now and then. I was kind of burned out at the end of my summer semester, and that energy is only now starting to return.
RE: Draining Myself
Yeah, my writing shrinks the faster I write (faster, smaller writing nears the point of intersection with illegibility fairly closely in my case as well). I can do more than 4.7 pages on one topic, but if it is a series of different questions, that is probably about my average penmanship speed.
RE: Draining Myself
Well definately don’t forget to rest up over the holiday.
RE: Draining Myself
I hear ya on the hand cramps and feeling good!