People who do too much

I think I am one of those. Inevitably I would volunteer to do things, but then come to feel stressed about them when the deadline comes up and then wonder why I signed up for them in the first place. I have to admit that part of it is my fault, i always like to wait till the very last minute before doing things. Don't understand exactly why, it's not because that I necessary really dread those tasks. Sometimes that is the case, but often I almost feel that I can't get my butt moving unless the deadline is looming. It was like studying for exams back in college, when I could never get started until at most a couple of days before the midterm or final. I don't really enjoy the stress and pressure, yet I feel that I can't function without it. Like at the present moment I have two rather pressing tasks that will have to be taken care of in the next week or so. One is the application for the teaching position. I have to put together a resume, list of references and statement of objectives. And I haven't started at all. The other is to publicize our Winter concert. I have compiled a list of local papers and the such, but I just realised how much work it entails. That I will have to call many papers to see how I can submit a listing (not entirely obvious from their websites) and then (with more research it appears that I have to do it) issue a press release to see if we can get a story. And since publicity is not exactly my forte (talking to professors no problem, but PR is quite another story) this is causing me some distress. I just have to take it all in stride I guess, and that my research is going to suffer this week. Oh yes, did I mention my research? After all, I do have a summer job in July, so that means I need to get as much done as I can before then, hopefully to the point when I can just write and EHD won't notice too badly if I'm hardly in the lab.

On top of all that, I have upped my practising schedule. I have been trying to get an hour or practice in a day, taking the time to vocalise, go through some repertoire and also learn music. I have found the most efficient thing to do is to go to the music house, even if it takes more effort to get there. Right now I am working on Barber's "Sure as the Shining Night", "Crucifixion", Mozart's "Alleluia", Puccini's "Quando Men Vo" and "O Mio Babbino Caro", Handel's "Rejoice, O Daugher of Zion" and Lloyd Weber's "All I Ask of You." Not to mention the many more songs I have to/want to learn. So the list is long, but thankfully, I still have plenty of time. And then with the piano class I need to get some practice time in for that too. So far my piano background has allowed me to get away with it, but I imagine not for long.

And after doing ALL these, I still have to find the time to get some exercise. I am not even remotely near the shape I used to be in, but then I am by no means willing to turn into a lardball. So that's frustrating, but I try my best to get in 2-3 workouts a week.

Of course there are still the mundane things in life to deal with, like cleaning, paying the bills etc. Definitely the part I enjoy the least.

Went to a self defense class today. It was an interesting experience, actually rather empowering. I would encourage anyone who has the opportunity to go for one. I think it's not so much about learning how to fight, but more to realise that you can do something to defend yourself, and also to avoid such confrontations in the first place.

Finally assembled the industrial sized pump for my turtles over the weekend. Whew! Now my turtles look really happy and hopefully I won't have to change the water as often (which would make ME happy).