Poor Aspen + another workout for you to try + too many tears…

I slept in until about 6:15 Wednesday morning, then got out of bed to make us breakfast smoothies. We had coconut-kale smoothies and they were pretty yummy! They had kale, coconut water, almond butter, frozen banana, pea protein, ice, flaxseed milk, and honey in them. SO. GOOD.
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I worked all morning – I didn’t even take a snack break! Can you believe it? My day was crazy. I’m still loving this lunch, though.
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Wednesdays are one of my off days from running. I’ve been doing the elliptical a lot and I had planned on doing that yesterday, but I just got caught up in work, so I wrote my own little Tabata workout to do in my living room. I switched to just writing the exercises themselves, but each two sets of moves have 8 rounds, 20 seconds each, with 10 second active rest in-between. Then I did 10 minutes of abs. The whole thing was less than 40 minutes! Win-win.
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There was a lot of sweat happening for just working out at home!
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Our poor Aspen girl hasn’t been acting like herself lately. She is really timid and just laying around. The other day she shook and then cried out like something hurt her. I’m taking her to the vet this morning because she still seems kind of off. Look how sad she looks. I made her a little bed in the living room so she could be close to me. She laid there all day. My poor girl.
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I sipped on a protein shake after my workout then ran to the grocery store to get a couple of things we were out of and the stuff to make a coleslaw for a BBQ at Kayla and Wade’s.
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I came home from the store and had cherries and dried mango, then it was back to work. My brain was fried yesterday. FRIED.
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We were going to Kayla and Wade’s for dinner at 7, but I got hungry at 4, so I had another snack. Then I proceeded to get super overwhelmed and sobbed to Jake in the kitchen. Poor guy. I was just so tired of always being on my computer and feeling like I can’t do anything because I’m on such a deadline. I also started thinking about everything I needed to do and I just kind of lost it. Then, when I do get something finished, I’m told I need to change something else. I was just feeling really defeated. I decided to skip the BBQ so I could keep working, which also bummed me out, so I cried about that, too. It was a rough evening. BUT, this snack was yummy.
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I insisted that Jake go to the BBQ, I didn’t want him to miss out just because I was having a bad moment. While he was at the BBQ, I knocked out a TON of work, so that was good. One day, I’ll have my life back. I think I’m also frustrated right now because I don’t know what I want to do when I graduate (if I ever get to that point!). I don’t think I want to go back into the classroom, but I also feel like I’ve worked SO hard for this degree that I need to use it. Maybe I’m just burnt out right now. I honestly don’t know. I’m a planner, so when I don’t have a plan, I get a little crazy. I know you can’t plan everything out, hell, you can’t really plan anything as far as life is concerned, but man, I like to think that I can. So right now, my life is just one big question mark and I’m really struggling with that. Sorry to get all Debby downer, but I’m sharing my life with you, so that’s a big part of it right now. The good and the bad. Speaking of the good, I’m super thankful for Jake. I would literally be a DISASTER without him being my support system. I know everything works out – it always does! It’s the getting there that is hard.

I whipped up some salmon, coleslaw, and leftover beans for my own dinner. I took a break from working and watched 15 minutes of The Office while I ate. It was nice. Then I worked until about 9.

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I finished working about 9, so I poured a tiny glass of wine and ate some chocolate while I waited for Jake to get home.
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Pre-run coffee is the best coffee! I rocked this adorable tank for my run today – thank you for sending it to me, Springfield Fitlife!! <3
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Aaaand because today is a new day and there will be NO tears, here are some dissertation memes to make you (me) laugh.
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I’m taking Aspen to the vet in a little bit – fingers crossed they can make her feel better ASAP. Then I’ll be knocking out work for the rest of the day.
Happy Friday Eve, friends!

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  1. Kylie

    Hiya Chelsea, I haven’t done my PhD yet but a number of my friends have. The frustration is part of the process but it does end! When you finally submit it will be anticlimatic (sad but true after all of the work you’ve put in and life that you’ve given up), again part of the process. I think most people feel so worn out for a few weeks after it, not really believing it’s over! The excitment when you find out it has been accepted and again on your graduation day does go a long way to helping you forget the pain. It is WORTH it, it does drag on for too long, but what you are doing is significant. There just isn’t that much reserarch into online communities of practice!
    You are inspiring with your dedication and tenacity. The tough days happen, the tears happen and we get back up and moving towards our goals because they are important to us. KP x

    • Chelsea

      Kylie, you are SO sweet! Thank you for your kind words. You made me tear up. Thank you, THANK YOU!

      • Kylie

        A PhD is not easy and the stress can be overwhelming – that part is holding me back a bit from committing to do it! I’m considering another Master degree, this time a research master, to put it off a bit longer! Ha!
        It does make the mind boggle that you can be inspiring people all over the world but it is true. đŸ™‚ Keep smiling and hope Aspen is okay! KP x

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