February 1, 2026
Context for anti-weeknotes
My hands are slowly healing, and now the challenge is not to do too much on the days that I feel better. Of course I do sometimes, but I’m trying.
The week was somewhat chaotic with 21 inches of snow falling from Sunday to Monday and then another three the next night. There was a snow day, a delayed start to school, and a day off for professional development, so routines were entirely off. We were able to sleep in a little later, which was nice, but having the whole family at home meant constant interruptions — and I didn’t think to adjust my work and kept over scheduling myself and then getting frustrated.
I need much more sleep than I’m getting right now, and much more consistency. I could use some of those routines that were working well at the start of the year. My goal for the week is to get back into some of those.
I’ve been running at capacity, but I said yes to two new commitments. They’re both important to me, and saying yes made me think about the ways we refill the well. There are things I need to do to feel fulfilled, and most of my committee work falls into that category. But this means a lot of interaction and being “on” for an introvert, and I need to find ways to give myself some quiet. That’s a different kind of replenishment.
These times are so loud and demanding. The snow changed the pace a little but also caused an entirely new set of problems — there’s preparation and the aftermath — frenzied activity that needs a counterbalancing slowdown. I’ve continued to take photos, which has a focusing, calming effect. Aside from that, I’ve been running too fast.
