An Abundance of Fatigue!

The first week of classes has begun and I’m already exhausted beyond belief. My mind. My body. I joke to anyone who will listen (my students) that I’m an old man. These last few days, as I navigate campus and interactions, I can’t help but feel truth to the joke. I’m just tired already, and I’ve only had four days of teaching under my belt. So far, the students are brilliant. The sound design students are energetic. The creative writing folks are trepidatious to engage with each other and me. They will need a bit of work but I’m confident by February we’ll have a good line of communication rolling.

The hardest thing for me is finding my rhythm with waking up, driving to work, work, and returning home. I already hit the snooze button in the morning, shortening the time I have to prepare for the day ahead. After I get home, instead of doing anything else, I take a nap to gain some of the energy that was sapped away during the day. The problem with that means less time in the afternoon/evening for activities that help me reset.

With that said, I just need to tweak my approach to all of this. To find the positive, I should accept that perhaps this is the routine that resets me every day. There are plenty more class days ahead—my routine will adjust and change. And I will find a rhythm that doesn’t mean sleeping to help eliminate the fatigue of the day.

Perhaps a nice cup of coffee will boost me to get through the day. I am not a coffee drinker, but I can try it! Right?! I just need to avoid staying up deep into the night.
Regardless, this first of classes have been long and rewarding. I enjoy teaching and I hope my students can see that—despite my fatigue.