Slowing down

The 80-hour workweek from hell is, thankfully, winding to a close. I'm not completely out of the woods yet---still plenty to do within the next day or two---but no more urgent deadlines for the time being, and the stuff that has to be done sooner rather than later will not suck up all of my available time.

Unfortunately, I think I'm coming down with a cold, because I feel like crap. I have no doubt that this has been brought on by all of the stress and the lack of sleep. Mr. Jane is coming down with something too, possibly, so we're just a pathetic bunch.

I don't like going into a new week without having a day of rest. It throws off my rhythm and my productivity. So to make up for it, I am going to try to take some time off during the week: not work some evenings, make sure I get to the gym, catch up on my sleep, clean my kitchen and bathrooms (which really, really need a good scrubbing, especially the floors), possibly even (gasp!) watch one of the many movies in my backlog o' movies. (The latest from the Netflix queue, I *Heart* Huckabees, has been sitting on my DVD player for a week, unopened. It's driving me nuts!) If I can't have a full day of rest, I'll try to get my rest and relaxation in little spurts here and there.

I honestly don't understand how anyone can find this mode of working sustainable. I feel so burned out, so drained. I know I'm not thinking as clearly as I normally do. How can anyone do this for anything more than short periods of time? The mind boggles.