Steps I am taking

[darkemeralds]

After a lovely three-day weekend of cool sunshine, bike rides, pleasant online conversations, long sleeps, and other defining characteristics of good weekends, I'm girding my loins (or are they loinesses?) to return to the World's Tallest Basement tomorrow.

I have Taken Steps to re-balance my mind in relationship to my suddenly-doubled job.

First, I've made an appointment with a counselor for Wednesday morning through the Employee Assistance Program. We're going to discuss work styles, learning styles, and stress management. There will probably be several sessions.

Second (and this doesn't sound like much but it IS), I've made an appointment to get my hair cut. Tomorrow. In the middle of workday. By the really good haircutter. I've been putting it off for weeks because I haven't wanted to take the time away from the office. Well screw that. My current hair style is supposed to be super short, and right now it's grippably bushy, and driving me nuts.

Third, I've been working really hard to curb my emotional overeating, and it's making a big difference in how I feel while I'm awake, and how well I sleep. Also? Kale is my latest food discovery and I've been eating it by the bunch. I can't begin to tell you how odd this is for a person to whom the entire range of edible vegetables was asparagus and spinach up until a couple of weeks ago.

So, wish me luck tomorrow. It's when I begin to restructure my job.

Comments

[lamentables]

Good luck. It looks like you've developed a sound strategy that addresses the problems of your working conditions and also protects your well-being. The hair cut is a big thing: not only because you're putting yourself first, but because you'll feel good when it's done.

[darkemeralds]

Just got back from said haircut and holy cow, I DO feel better. Well, it's a fantastic haircut, and it was attained by means of a bike ride, two miles each way, through lovely, golden, leaf-falling neighborhoods in the sunshine.

What a difference it makes to one's perspective when one feels really well.

[(Anonymous)]

Good for you. Hope it all goes well.

[(Anonymous)]

Sorry - that was korintomichi from LJ. Got confused with Dreamwidth - wah!

[darkemeralds]

Oh, hello! Nice to see you here. And thanks.

[cookiemom6067]

Yeah for EAP's - hope it helps.

And good job on curbing the emotional eating.

And extra cheers for putting yourself ahead of the job to get your hair cut!

Good luck - I'm rooting for you and will have you in my thoughts.

[darkemeralds]

Thanks. I'm doing some particular work around my fear of hunger pangs (and of discomfort in general), and it's helping me tolerate a wee bit of hunger.

In turn, I'm noticing a real clarity of mind that simply isn't present when I'm bogged down in (mostly) carbs. I think it's a purely physical thing--well, I don't really believe in "psychology" anyway--but until lately, I've not had the observational tools to notice the subtle change.

I'm a ways yet from being able to articulate it, except to say that it's helping me a lot with the stress.

And my haircut, just completed, is awesome.

[kis]

Good luck. I really admire the way you come back fighting when life throws you a loop.

[darkemeralds]

I have wonderful, supportive friends.

[panisdead]

Ooh, I love kale. It's kind of a pain to chop and de-stem, but it's good. And if you like kale, the likelihood of also enjoying collard greens, etc is pretty high.

[darkemeralds]

Do you know, I've never tried collard greens. Do you use them generally the same way you'd use kale? Or chard (which, for me so far, is chop it up and put it in something tasty)?

I love the knife-work part of cooking. I think that's about half of my new enjoyment of veggies--cuttin' 'em up. Heh. I sound like Jayne. "I just like cuttin' 'em."

[tehomet]

Good for you. And best of luck tomorrow!

[darkemeralds]

Thanks! Haircut is now accomplished (and brilliantly!), and I'm buckling down to some organizing tasks, mostly so that I can take a linear narrative to the counselor tomorrow.

After that? We'll see what happens.

[scribblemoose]

Good luck! I think you're brilliant to be tackling this and in such a constructive and thoughtful way. I'm sure you'll succeed.

And I think I might just follow your example!

[darkemeralds]

If I've set a good example for anyone, anywhere, EVER, I'm a proud little soldier.

So far my strategy is paying off wonderfully with a clear head, a cool new haircut, and refreshed attitude, and considerably more energy than I had last week.

[executrix]

I got nuthin' ("Thank fucking God I'm a freelancer" doesn't really count as a useful tip). Kale is really good braised with other strong greens--use lots of broth! and eat it with cornbread! Maybe with some beans on the side or cooked in, to make it a complete meal.

Really cool bike pin-up:
http://tmagazine.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/10/15/the-fashion-cycle-linus-bikes/?ref=style

[darkemeralds]

Yum! Yes, I've been thinking of adding lots of chopped leaves to my next soup, and black beans are among my favorite foods.

That bike is like porn, almost. My bike shop carries the Linus line, and I've looked at them. They are just about perfect, and only a couple of features of my Dutch bike gave it an edge over a Linus. Thanks for the pretty, pretty picture.

[bientot]

What they said - but also, this:

I'm girding my loins (or are they loinesses?)

LOL - I'm guessing loinesses would be lolcats?

[darkemeralds]

Hee! Yes! I'm girding my LOLcats.

LOL!