Post-Exams

Anyone in law school will tell you that exam time is awful. The stress levels are high. Sometimes you feel like you could cause a major meltdown by dropping a book in the library. Everyone finds ways to deal with their stress, and for me knitting is one of those ways. However, I don’t usually get much knitting done during exams. I’ll do a row in the morning, a row a lunch, and maybe a row in the evening. But really, when I sit down to “take a break” from studying, its all I can do to focus on the story line of something like “House Hunters.” (Think- reality show that “recaps” what happens so much that the actual content of the show probably takes up 10 minuets of the half hour slot.)

But after exams, that’s a different story.

I actually have a really hard time with stress after exams as well. It’s a different type of stress but its still there.

I finished exams at about 11:00 on May 10^th, came home, and panicked. I put off so many things while I’m in exam mode for 3 weeks that I come home and realize there is so much else to do. My bathroom is gross, the grass looks like a jungle, I have appointments to make, and some of my family members have left voicemails that are demanding I contact them so that they know I am alive. But, where to start! In the past I have often started a non-fiction book, diligently highlighted it and taken notes on it, just so I would feel productive while on a plane ride home after exams.

This year I came home to a huge passel of tasks that I had put off; plus I had a paper to finish. I officially planned to go back to work on the paper on Monday, so I had to let that one go. But what about the other chores?

I decided that taking the dog for a walk was the most important. It was a pretty warm day so when we made it back I sat down on the couch…picked up my knitting…turned on the t.v…and apparently didn’t move for like 3 days.

I started a new project, a tank top, and manage to complete a pretty decent portion of the front between Friday and Monday morning.  So much for the chores. But I did feel a lot better. I had been productive that weekend but I had also relaxed.  It was nice that the knitting was different than exams but still productive, and it was way more fun then cleaning.

Then on Monday- I tackled that paper.