Between being 'head down, bum up' in study and assignments, and rising early for the work commute, I'm knackered. Trying to find a balance isn't easy, but making small, incremental steps toward bigger projects keeps me sane.
Here's how I do it.
CLEAN IN FITS AND FARTS
Carving big projects up into small chunks is the way I get through most big things. At the moment, rather than clean the house in one manic whirlwind of feather dusters, vacuum and cleaning cloths, I dust a table or shelf each time I fill a basin of hot water for washing up.
I use this essential oil on a hot, wet dust cloth to help keep the house smelling nice.
PRUNE IN PARTS
I've left secateurs where I can pick them up after hanging out a load of washing. I clip back a few tendrils here or there or pull out weeds, dropping them to mulch back into the soil.
I am clipping overgrown passionfruit, jasmine, peppermint, oregano and pulling old tomatoes.
KNIT A LINE OFF THE CHART
I treat myself to a couple of rows of an elaborate Jenny Kee picture knit after a two-hour study block. Fortunately each row's reasonably short. I might even listen to a podcast while knitting. #winning
A PAGE OR TWO KEEPS YOU SMART
I read a chapter before turning off the lights each night. I make sure it's not something related to my study, and it's definitely not on a device.
I am reading pages of Pain, Parties, Work: Sylvia Plath in New York, Summer 1953.
A CONVERSATION WITH HEART
I make time to see friends - it gets me out of the house or up from the desk. Online study is a pretty lonely business and I relish a chance to catch up on other people's daily life.
MAKE DINNER TIME AN ART
I am cooking. When there were kids at home, cooking was a creative outlet. I spent time menu planning and adapting old favourites to introduce new flavours. With the juggle of full-time study, work, visits from the grandkidlets and a house and garden to keep, cooking has again become my creative outlet.
I've made chutney from a glut of red tomatoes, that had already split.
I made harissa paste from a glut of chillies.
I am making yummy salads from the Arthur Street Kitchen Neighbourhood cook book.
Image source: Caspar Rubin, on Unsplash
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