Blog #177: The Laziest Weekend

Every weekend since I've been up here, I've spent at least one day downtown, usually two. I mean, my time here is/was limited, so I didn't want to waste a single opportunity to spend time in downtown Chicago!

That said, this weekend... I just couldn't. I was seriously exhausted, I think both from the long week I had but also from my non-stop lifestyle in general. Prior to this weekend, I feel like I hadn't really taken a lot of time to breathe since a few months ago when I was violently ill in India and was forced to stay home and do nothing but sleep. I'd relaxed a little when I got home, but the stress and anxiety associated with this move made it difficult for me to really decompress.

So, as guilty as I felt "giving up" a weekend in downtown Chicago, I took this weekend to myself and chilled like nobody's business. Over the past two days I have probably spent a combined total of eleven or more hours in the hammock, most of which I spent sleeping. I finally finished the book I've been reading, and did my homework early so I wouldn't be stressed about it tonight before going to sleep.

I also took my time grocery shopping, which is one of my favorite things to do by myself, and spent a decent amount of time in the kitchen meal-prepping for this week. At this point I don't care if that makes me sound like a "boring" adult, meal-prepping is one of my favorite activities (when I get to do it at my own pace and I'm not stressed about trying to get it done quickly). I roasted some brussels sprouts with a balsamic-honey glaze, made a veggie-heavy vegan and gluten-free pasta salad, sliced a whole watermelon (after accidentally dropping it on the floor and splitting it open and making a giant mess), and made a big batch of pico de gallo for the week with loads of cilantro. It is all delicious and I can't wait to eat all of it and it gives me something to look forward to every day which is one of the reasons I love meal-prepping!

Anyway, part of me still feels a bit guilty for not spending at least one day downtown this weekend. It is my second to last weekend here after all. But, I have to remind myself that 1) I wouldn't even have enjoyed it to its fullest, because I was so tired, 2) just because I'm here in Chicago it doesn't mean I'm not still me, a human person who needs to take care of themself, and 3) this weekend of chilling and self-care will have served me much better than an overpriced meal downtown that wouldn't have been as good as my homemade vegan tacos anyway.

Yummmm this was my grocery haul today and I'm so excited to eat all this food.