Around Here | For the last couple of weeks, I’ve been leaning to the urge to just slow down in pretty much all areas of my life. My sister and I hosted a big holiday party last weekend, and since then I’ve been leaning back instead of leaning in. Except at work, I guess, since I’m co-leading a big project that needs to get done by the end of the year. A lot of my mental energy is going there, so I suppose it makes sense that I’m scaling back in other places. Balance!
Reading | My reading has been slow this week! I am almost done with A Dream Called Home by Reyna Grande, a memoir about “one woman’s quest to find her place in America as a first-generation Latina university student and aspiring writer determined to build a new life for her family.” I like it a lot so far, I just need to sit down and finish it. After that, I need to pick up my last book for the Read Harder challenge (The Hobbit — An assigned book you hated or never finished). I think knowing that’s my next read is slowing me down — I really did not like that book!
Watching | I flew through both seasons of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, which (unsurprisingly) reminds me a lot of Gilmore Girls in both good and bad ways. I think this Emily Nussbaum piece gets at some of what bugs me about it, although none of those things bothered me enough to stop watching. I also just binged a Netflix show, Sisters, about three women who discover they’re related after a fertility clinic scandal. It was so great, I hope there ends up being another season!
Listening | To hit my goal of listening to 12 audiobooks this year, I needed to take a break from my Harry Potter re-listen and Michelle Obama’s Becoming — those audiobooks are long! Instead I downloaded a quick one, My Squirrel Days by Ellie Kemper. Alice raved about this one in print on the podcast, and on audio it’s pretty hilarious too.
Loving | If there is any through-line to my reading/watching/listening this year, it’s that 2018 was a year of women. The vast majority of my reading, like 85 percent, has been books by women. The shows and movies I’ve loved have been led by women. The podcasts I’ve stuck with are anchored or co-hosted by women. I’m so excited and energized and inspired by all of those things.
Hating | My sleep schedule has gotten a little bit wonky. I’m a much better, more productive person when I get up in the morning, but I’ve gotten in a nasty habit of hitting snooze or sleeping in really late on weekends. It’s a habit I need to figure out how to break!
Pondering | I’ve been thinking about my goals and plans for 2019. I need to pick a new One Little Word, settle on some writing/blogging/reading/life goals for the year, set up my next bullet journal, and then get organized again. I did well on the reading and blogging goals I set this year, so I’m feeling more motivated that I can think a little more broadly in 2019.
Anticipating | Aside from work, I think the next few weeks are going to be super chill. Book Riot is going on hiatus for the holiday, so I’ve got a week or so without a single freelance deadline. We’ll be going up to my parent’s house in northern Wisconsin for Christmas, which means a long weekend of not traveling or doing much of anything.
Happy Sunday, everyone!
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Thanks for linking to the New Yorker piece on “Miss Maisel.” I found the show grating, was dismayed with the accolades, and couldn’t articulate my annoyance. Emily expressed what I couldn’t. Thank you!
I’m glad I found it too! I flew through both seasons of the show, but something about it didn’t sit quite right. Not enough to stop watching, but just enough.
I think the end of the year is a great time to slow down, enjoy the holidays, and regroup a bit before the new year starts! I find myself doing the same. It’s fun to think about goals for next year and start planning.
It is! I was pretty successful on my goals this year, so it makes me more excited to set some new ones for 2019.
Absolutely agree on Mrs. Maisel. There are things about the show that bug me, but nothing to keep me from watching, although I didn’t rush to watch season two when it was released earlier this month. Enjoy your slower pace and time without deadlines. I’m still in the thick of closing out the year, but looking forward to turning off my phone on Friday and taking some time off.
That sounds excellent, I hope you got a nice break!
My wife and I liked the first season of Mrs. Maisel, but the second one, we couldn’t stand after a few… We did watch the start of Sisters and liked it. Thanks for reminding me about it.
I loved Sisters! I hope they have another season.
I’ve really been feeling the slow down myself. All of the essays are graded, I have a couple of weeks off, and I’m enjoying…whatever. Crocheting a lot, listening to audiobooks and podcasts, and generally resting. I hope you enjoy your slower pace, the deadline’lessness, and peace and quiet for a bit! Cheers to a fantastic 2019, Kim!
That sounds so excellent! The end of the year can be so nice like that, just being chill. I loved having a couple weeks without a deadline.
I was so busy throughout this month that the past two days I’ve finally gotten a chance to slow down and I’m loving it. I’m trying to catch up on rest and books. Hope you have a wonderful holiday and looking forward to hearing more about your reading goals for 2019!
I hope your time off was great! I’m still noodling on my goals, but I’m hoping to have them up the first week of the year.