Tiredness

So far, touch wood, I have managed to avoid the plague of cold and flu that is so common at this time of year, and brought into focus particularly at the moment due to the swine flu pandemic.
But I've been incredibly tired.
Both nights after placement I have been incredibly exhausted; Wednesday night dinner was a few glasses of red and some corn chips.
The rest of the week has not been much better, despite early nights and frequent sleep-ins, I can't seem to shake this overarching sense of tiredness.
I remember in supervision once my supervisor saying to me to notice when we feel sleepy in group or individual work, because it may be indicative of something that ourselves or the group or client does not want to deal with. I am currently working on an essay that is intellectually demanding. I engaged with the subject, read the readings, and have faith that I can write this essay, and write it well. But there's still the niggling anxiety that I have to hold at bay, that perhaps I'm not up to this challenge, that perhaps I will not be able to do this assessment piece. That irrational fear that gets in the way of getting this task done; the fear that is at the root of procrastination for many people; the fear that they are not up to the task.

Encouragement

I've spent some time this evening sending off emails to psychologists to ask if they would be willing to invite their clients to participate in my research. Lately I have been lacking in enthusiasm for my project, and feeling swept up in the enormity of submitting 30,000 - 50,000 words by the end of the year. Which is why a comment such as this, received from one of the psychologists I emailed, is both timely and encouraging:
"The concept of your research is very commendable.
You are focusing on the heart of therapy".

Elevenses

Walking into Elevenses, the new cafe by Thomas Ervin-Ward and Shanny Sena from Obscura (http://obscura.net.au), is like walking into someone's kitchen. It has a relaxed, unpretentious vibe, complete with a large round kitchen table. The staff are friendly and up for a chat, and greet regular customers warmly. I haven't eaten there yet (unless you count a fantastic piece of Mars Bar Slice!), but the vegetable soup and garlic toast they were serving today smelt fantastic. To be honest, the coffee is a little hit and miss. Somedays it is amazing, the first sip bringing joy to my heart and a smile to my face. But when it's not that good, it's still pretty damm fine.

Elevenses
169 Rankins Road,
Kensington VIC 3031

The ultimate in proscrastination

A blog about coffee and psychology. A place for me to reflect as I write my doctoral thesis, and to write about my favourite places for coffee.