For whatever reason (or, a lot of reasons), I’ve let myself get stressed out lately. Some of it is my own fault; a long run on Sunday instead of two extra hours of homework set me back.  Some of it is just the nature of this internship: reading, studying, working, doing work (at home), and projects.

Oh, it also doesn’t help that the work I did do on Saturday was not there when I went to finish it last night.  Yup. Somewhere in the rush of getting ready for a dinner date with an old friend, I either didn’t save it, or saved it somewhere completely ridiculous that I later could not find to save my life.

Last night, starting over from scratch? Not so fun.

This week I’m in a rotation that I already know I love: pediatrics. However, this is also the clinical area that I have the least experience with. It’s a whole new set of guidelines and rules, which means it’s a lot of work to keep up with it all. But that’s just fine by me. I want to know everything!

Anyway. When I get stressed, I find an outlet. When I get like this? I find a few of them: running, planning, reading, etc.

Running is always there. I love to run: it’s my “thing.” Whether it’s a long run or a short run, they are my miles. Time spent doing what I choose to do.

Visitors….are coming! Plans are in the works for a March visit from my brother, and a May visit from my parents and sister. Excited???! That doesn’t do it justice. I realize it’s nowhere close to neither March nor May, but just to know they’ll be here is enough. Things are already in the planning stages, and I may have even convinced the little sis to do a half-marathon with me! This is good stuff.

I have a stack of books waiting for me on my nightstand. Dipping into a good story, one chapter at a time, is my favorite before-bed habit. It also keeps my mind from racing back to the to-do list, or what time my alarm clock is set for.

I need my de-stressors. And I also need to step back sometimes and take a deep breath. Homework and reading and working? Yes. That is manageable.

Posted by Mary Ellen Nunes at 02/03/2009 07:50:27 AM