Knitting and reading

Over the holidays I spent about 3 weeks doing nothing but working and then 2 weeks knitting. Both were thoroughly enjoyable. I found I enjoy knitting while studying as it keeps me amused so I can read for longer spans of time. Last semester I had taken to wearing earrings while reading so I could fiddle with something while studying, I think knitting will turn out to be a far more productive habit. Knitting also seems to be the solution to my problem of balancing university and living, it allows me to switch off when I get home. Above is a pic of a jumper I knitted for my friend's Yorkshire Terrier being modeled by my cat Triny.

Essays

I've been neglecting my blog lately due to upcoming essay deadlines which have been hugely stressful. I am still awaiting marks for what I've handed in so far but I'm quite confident about the work I'm doing. Of course that probably means that I'm overly confident and the grades will be terrible, but it feels great being back in the swing of things. It's been so long since I've pushed myself mentally that, at times, I'm still not sure I'm up to the challenge.

Latin is going great. So far 40% of my total mark for the class is 75% which is a strong First. I have another translation due Tuesday which seems deceptively simple and then a final translation just before the class breaks up for Christmas but I'm enjoying it so much I plan to continue after Christmas.

Trying to find the balance

By Wednesday of last week I had wound myself up so much about the reading I need to do over the next couple of weeks that I was little more than a ball of nerves. On Thursday I spoke to one of my lecturers about the reading list I was attempting and was told that I was being over ambitious and that I could cut my book list in half (a fact my mind refuses to accept).

As a result I changed tact and spent most of Friday watching films from the 50's trying to understand Europeans between 1890 and 1930 unfortunately, I found it was faster for me to read than to wait for films to unravel. I then took the weekend off to cool off a little and hopefully process some of what I've already read.

None of this has actually made me feel like I'm less behind schedule though. I feel like I'm constantly two steps behind everyone else. I still don't have a mark for my Latin assignment and will have to wait until this Thursday for it but I do feel slightly more confident about the work now.

I know that I should just relax but I am constantly concerned and apprehensive about the November Essays. I'm actually calmest when I manage to spend a few hours in the library working. As such that's the plan for this afternoon/evening.

Progress

I've handed in my dreaded Latin assignment. I wish marking was instant the wait for my results is driving me mad.

I've now got the framework for one of the three essays that I have to hand in next month so I'm much happier that the essay will eventually develop around the this plan. I hope to have similar plans for the other two essays by the end of the day tomorrow. I plan on staying in the library all day and not leaving until I'm happy that I at least know what I need to address before being able to address the essay.

Latin Assignment

I'm sitting at uni planning to hand in my Latin assignment in the next hour or two and I can't force myself to focus on it. Earlier I re-wrote the entire translation for the third time and I am so afraid that it will be rubbish that I can't make myself type it out and hand it in. I figure if I get my hands used to typing it will be easier to focus when I direct my attention back at the assignment and surely writing few lines will be more productive than playing games.

My concerns are:
That I've done as much as I can think of doing and it might still get a bad mark which will count towards my final mark.
I'm probably over prioritising it and wasting time that should be focused on essays that will be due in a few weeks but my mind is irrational. With the other essays I get so worried about what to quote from which author for my essays that it stunts my writing in those subjects to.