Today I woke up to the following thought:
“I am tired”
This could be because I spent most of the night awake with a massive “wisdom tooth” ache, but I am sure it is not only that. I haven’t had a full-weekend break since… late February. Between my private coaching practise, teaching, testing, writing, submitting abstracts, co-organising different events, and preparing my way out, there hasn’t been a weekend in which I can simply engage with other activities beyond work.
Curiously enough, Facebook reminded me today that three years ago I was in the middle of nowhere with my DSLR camera, taking random pictures of people, flowers and any other object that inspired me or made me feel somehow positive. Seeing that on my phone screen I realised that I haven’t touched my camera since then, and it’s not because I haven’t got it with me in the UK. It’s simply because… I have done nothing else than work over the past three years (except writing my “Sex and the City” posts in this blog – thank God, I have no interest in being the academic here!).
Next week I’m flying to Lisbon and I haven’t even had the time or energy to book train tickets to get to the airport. I’m indeed over-worked, but luckily enough I’m not burned out as in the past. I’ve been enjoying what I’m doing and the time to submit this PhD is almost here. Four more month to go, and yet there’s still an enormous list of things to take care of around public engagement and social impact. These are indeed exciting times… but I do need a break, so I hope Lisbon will treat me well.