Life Lately

Clockwise from top left: a leafy walk to town; a rainy day spent in bed reading for class; the beginning of autumn on campus; my study view for most of the year; the beautiful mountain view from our 5th-floor flat.

So it's been a while...

The chaos of senior year has caught me in a tangle, and I'm currently in the middle of fall break, half-asleep and trying not to think about all the work I still need to do this semester. (Spoiler: it's a lot). 

I'm sorry for my absence from this space, having hardly had time to wash my hair most days it's no surprise to me that my creative hobbies have largely fallen to the wayside. So I thought perhaps I could list a few of the things that have happened since I last posted.

Senior year

I started my senior year of college in late August, and whew what a whirlwind it has all been. I'm taking five classes -- which is one more than is standard, -- working three jobs, writing my history thesis, looking at grad school applications, and trying to maintain some sort of social life, as well as taking care of my wellbeing. It's a lot, but I thrive when I'm busy, so I've been feeling really good given the circumstances.

Autoimmune diagnosis

In June, I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's hypothyroidism, an autoimmune disorder where my immune system fights against my thyroid, messing up the balance of thyroid-stimulating hormones. It's complicated and honestly I'm not sure my mind fully understands it yet, but the diagnosis was very quick and I was put on daily medication within a couple of weeks. I was initially skeptical of taking pills every day for a new condition, but within a week of starting the right dose, I instantly felt more myself. The six months or so before the diagnosis left me feeling exhausted, listless, depressed, and far more anxious than usual. So I'm extremely grateful for my incredible doctors who put me back on the path to semi-normality. I hope to write more about Hashimoto's and how I've been managing it, so keep an eye out for that.

History research thesis

The last requirement for my history major is a big research project (a thesis). I'm in the research phase and need to start writing soon, but I'm really enjoying it. My topic is 20th-century Australian children's literature and its portrayal of Australian Aboriginal cultures. It's been really fascinating so far, and every day I feel like there's a new layer of complexity that is added. Still lots of work to do, but working on an independent research project makes me feel like such a professional historian!

Post-grad plans

The number one question any college senior is asked: what are you going to do after graduation? Some of my peers recoil at the prospect of life after college, but nothing excites me more! I've been looking at MA/MLitt programs in the UK, at schools like St. Andrews, York, Durham, Edinburgh, and Glasgow. I'm planning to apply to study Victorian literature or Medieval literature (totally different, I know, but I love them both!) On the other hand, I am also looking at creative jobs both in the UK and Australia, and even a few in the US. In short, I have no idea where I'll end up and I find that prospect rather thrilling. I will let you know when any concrete decisions have been made!

I hope to be back here and writing/sharing photos soon. First, I need to sleep for about 20 hours.

Back soon,

x B

Thoughts This Week: On Choice

I've been thinking quite a bit lately about choice and the role that our everyday decisions play in shaping our lives. While I was home for the summer and visiting friends and family I thought a lot about how my life would be different if I stayed in Melbourne and never chose to study overseas. What might be different? Would I have stayed in touch with certain friends that aren't in my life anymore? Would I love studying there as much as I enjoy studying here?

I can remember on the flight back to Melbourne in May, thinking to myself just how incredible the force of decisions can be. I thought to myself about how my reality is composed entirely of choices, just little mundane choices I make every day. I wouldn't be sitting here right now if I hadn't done the little things that often seem inconsequential, right? On a whim I chose to take a certain English class and we happened to read one narrative that played a huge role in my life for half a year (Hannah Duston, I'm looking at you). I don't know, I think it can be pretty incredible to look at the different choices that led you to where you are today.

Sometimes this is so overwhelming that I'm frightened into not making any choices for fear that the next one will be the one that changes everything. If that even makes sense at all.

In other news, I'm a week into my junior year and I am having a good time so far, though I can't recall being this exhausted maybe ever. I'm looking forward to a lot of things and have booked in to spend Christmas in London and then the next semester at the University of Edinburgh so I am ridiculously excited for that to come around.

Hope all is well with you, whoever you are and wherever in the world you are.

x B

Life Lately: December

As I sit down to write this I'm in Los Angeles Airport, waiting for my flight to Auckland. I feel like that's just my life lately, so busy I can hardly keep track of what I'm doing. Thanksgiving and Finals flew by. I spent the last weekend in Seattle with my brother, and now I'm heading home to Melbourne for some relaxation, hopefully! Anyways, here are some snaps from the last few weeks, which have gone by so quickly!

Clockwise from top left: this weekend, exploring Seattle; the view I had during Finals week; a walk on a crisp day; a rainy afternoon spent in bed (watching Skyfall, I think). Hope all is well, wherever in the world you are and whatever you are doing.x B

Life Lately: November

I don't know what it is but the last couple of weeks have left me feeling totally exhausted, and in need of a long (really long) sleep. I think that the lead up to finals has begun, and the weather is getting colder, so now is the time to think about self-care and remember to put my health before my grades. It's something that I always try to do but at this point in the semester it can be so easy to stay up all night working on papers and cramming for exams. It's not healthy!

Hope you are all well, and not too stressed out!
More posts coming soon, I promise! Just need to crank out a couple of papers first.
x B

Curing Midweek Blues

Lately I've been making more of an effort to enjoy (or at least not detest) weekdays and all that come with them. It is so easy to fall into the mentality of I can't wait until Friday! It's totally okay to look forward to Friday and I really do most weeks, but I also think it's important to appreciate Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. I'm trying not to be the kind of person that lives for the weekend. I'm working on making the most of every minute of every day.

That said, my busiest day is Tuesday and sometimes by the time I get to Tuesday evening all I want to do is curl up in bed and sleep until Saturday arrives. I wish. If you're like me and find it a struggle to stay motivated and power through the week, but also find yourself worn out by Friday afternoon, maybe these tips will help. 

• Plan! I know it sounds boring but honestly, this is what I've found to be the most helpful in getting things done and making sure I have time for myself in the evening. I keep a diary so that I know when important things are coming up. Additionally, each night I write myself a list of tasks to complete the next day. This has been a huge help this school year, and I would recommend it! I cross each task off when I finish it and somehow I can feel myself de-stress a little bit after I do.
• Put yourself first. It took me a long time to learn that no paper or homework task is as important as my mental and physical health. I'm not an all-nighter kind of girl, and I'm not going to let schoolwork stress me out to the point of physical exhaustion. I had a friend who had a literal breakdown because she worked too hard and didn't spend enough time caring for herself. So, start assignments early, to avoid late nights. And even if you feel like you need a late night, just don't stay up all night. All kinds of regret the next day.
• Exercise! I am not the best person to be dishing out this advice, but when I do make the time for a walk or a run on a weekday I feel so much better. It clears my head, makes me feel more energized, and gives me a chance to look at all the pretty trees and flowers around the neighborhood! When you get back, you'll be so much more awake and ready to tackle any challenge that comes your way!