sunday recap

getting out of a rut ?

Hi guys! I’m trying a new schedule, which means that in addition to one longer post per week on Wednesday I’m going to do a Sunday recap post filled with more personal things what I’ve been up to, writing, etc. I want to maybe throw a *third* post in there (maybe just weekly recommendations), but will spend the next couple weeks figuring out the ideal pace.

Sorry about fewer posts over the past couple months—I was experimenting with some (non-Substack) work stuff in August, and traveling in Europe most of September. But now it’s officially fall and I’m flooded with back to school energy once again.

Though: this particular week I’ve been really grumpy! There have been a few different shakeups in my life recently, and while each one individually is neutral or even positive, I think the combination is bringing me down. Or maybe it’s more existential? I’ll ask my therapist and report back.

I’ve noticed that when I’m in a good mood, I’m generally very happy, productive, social, constantly going on long walks, tidying up, writing more, reading constantly.

When I’m in a rut, I’m sleeping badly, irritated by minor things going wrong, letting cups/clothes/dog toys accumulate around the apartment, picking fights, trying to nap in the middle of the day but never able to fall asleep, and I don’t feel like reading whichever books I’m currently in the middle of.

But: I have a really good strategy for dealing with terminal grumpiness, which is that I’m not allowed to do anything weird until I feel better. Instead:

Things that are good for me when I’m grumpy