I am back for a day to announce my simple program for getting my energy back after a very stressful academic year. It was a tough year, as hard as I can remember in my 15 year career as a college professor. I am starting to feel better. There are even rumors that I'm getting my groove back, but let's not jump too far ahead. So why am I feeling better? Here's what works for me.
2. Exercise. My wife and I do exercise videos together in the morning. It's a good way to start the day and it's time spent with my wife not talking about home repairs, finances, kids, life, what's for dinner, etc.
3. Sleep. I don't sleep much during the academic year. Once it hits late September, my sleep is off until the academic year ends. I even catch a cat nap here and there during the summer months. I need to sleep while I can.
That's about it. The days aren't totally spent exercising, sleeping, and enjoying the sun. I do some other things too. But the point of this post isn't to celebrate productivity or scratching items off my to-do list. The point of is that rest and relaxation are important and necessary. I don't expect academic year 2015-2016 to be any easier so I'm taking it easy while I can.
On Thursdays, I usually take my 4-year-old to my parents and then I head to my office for the day to grade, prepare for class, etc. But my parents are in Florida, so I'm with Mack today. It was too cold to play outside, so all I could think to do was go to the grocery store and then Subway for lunch (his choice).
Mack likes to look at the lobsters so we spent a moment doing so.
Suddenly, "Your Love is Driving Me Crazy" came piping through the store. This song will stay in my head for days. Thanks, grocery store soundtrack maker.
The song put a little pep in my step, I won't kid you.
Then I came across Kardashian news.
Fast forward to lunch. Mack wanted to go to Subway. I took our picture. Look how this winter has aged me.
I like Subway better than most other fast food places. I don't have much to say except maybe it's the best of a bad lot. When I finish off a veggie delite, I certainly feel better than when I drop a cheeseburger in my stomach from McDonalds or other burgercentric places. However, with due respect to Subway, I doubt they have the Best. Breakfast. Ever.
Recently, my friend and fellow sociologist of everyday life Matt Loveland wrote a good piece about Subway. Check it out here.
Well, I'm writing this while Mack watches Calliou. Don't judge. Soon he'll take a nap and I can do some grading and e-mailing.
