It’s been a week full of writing but only one thing…another assessment. So much writing that I for the first time in a very long time I didn’t get a blog out on Tuesday. I made the conscious decision to let it go and be ok with not posting something. It was important to focus on the assignment. The report was finalised a few hours ago and now I have a few hours off this Friday afternoon!
I had another great lecture on Monday, the focus was stress which couldn’t have been more topical. Surprisingly though I haven’t felt too stressed this week; a little anxious and still feeling unsettled but not stressed. We had a session on Tuesday to prep for a practical exam we have in a few weeks’ time which was a little useful but not what I’d hoped it would be. I got a couple of grades back; one which I was happy with and another which was not so great but I know I didn’t put my best into it because it was at a similar time to my Literature Review and that was were my focus was. Aside from that, I’ve been at my laptop researching and data analysing and writing. It feels nice to be writing something other than that report! I’m looking forward to getting back to writing for me but I still have more assignments on the horizon. It’s pretty much one after the other at the moment but I’m trying to take a little respite in between each one.
This weekend my plans have all gone to pot. With Coronavirus issues, the Formula 1 has been cancelled, not sure if the climbing centre will be open so may not get to rock climb this week. Even my yoga teaching is all a bit up in the air at the moment. This Sunday seems to still be on but no use of props which kind of sucks when it comes to yin. It’s all for the best though. We need to keep people safe and try to stop any unnecessary spread of this virus.
Personal learning this week: The world doesn’t end if I don’t post a blog!
Interesting things I’ve learnt this week:
- We don’t feel pain in our brain – the brain does not contain any nociceptors (specialised pain receptors) this is why people can be awake during brain surgery, in some cases it’s vital to ensure functionality of certain areas of the brain are not damaged.
- Workplace stress is as bad for your heart as smoking and high cholesterol – From personal experience I know this to be true. Shocking but true. (https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/209121)
- 10 minutes a day in nature can improve mental health – Again, from personal experience, I totally agree. One of my university’s lecturers wrote an article about a recent review of evidence about the minimum nature dose needed to improve mental health particularly in college age students (https://theconversation.com/student-mental-health-10-minutes-a-day-in-nature-could-reduce-stress-and-anxiety-expert-explains-132633)