How to Adjust (Again)

On re-adjusting. And adjusting again.

May 27, 2025

Header illustration by Heather.

I spent January through April going to campus twice a week to teach, a major change to my schedule as a freelancer who works from home most days.

The change required that I adjust the way I divided up my time, and the way I focused. I do love a deadline (that no deadline = more procrastination). But this change required that I really sharpen my skills in time management and, sometimes, multitasking.

I spent a lot more time on the bus and Metro. I listened to podcasts and audiobooks. I watched a whole new YouTube series. I read a couple of new books. I called my friends (hi Jessica!) and they sometimes overheard the babies crying in the background, or the robot voice that announced the next stop. I did some free writing. But, also, I stared out the window a lot.

And then, in late April, class ended. The semester was really special and inspiring and broadened my sense of what it means to talk about art and writing. Teaching was an entirely different experience from being in meetings or writing or editing. I was so grateful for the oppportunity.

Closing that chapter also felt surreal. Especially as I start a new, personal life chapter (iykyk).

I adjusted to a new schedule, again. It felt strange not to be on the bus or train for extended periods of time, even while I was grateful to get some of that time back.

Now, I’m trying to walk more. So much of my work requires sitting still and I’ve become more aware of that in the last couple of years. I had really bad plantar fasciitis earlier this year, which reminded me to stretch more. And, in general, to pay more attention to the body. Because I am, so often, in my head.

Speaking of which: I’m trying not to get in my head too much about planning the second half of the year. The first half of the year felt top-heavy, in a way. There’s so much to do, and so little time. So many events. And details. I would often think. Some nights I couldn’t sleep because of the fear that I missed something, or that I needed to write just one more thing on my to-do list for later.

Right around the time I created the grading rubric for the students’ final projects, I started dreaming that I needed to do my final project. In one dream, I was the one worried about missing class.

The air is buzzing with graduations right now, and it’s funny to think about how these old anxieties came up again during my sleeping hours.

This month and next, so many students will experience huge adjustments. They will move on to a new school, or an entirely new life as post-grads.

If I may, I am looking to them for encouragement, really. I was once in their shoes. I’ve done this before, I like to remind myself. I will figure it out.

I will try to enjoy the big moments (like my last class!) without squeezing them too tight.