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Overload Wins Some Days

Naps and extra sleep help a little, but after too much social interaction and too much stress, I need some time to compose myself and prepare for yet more socializing. I'm not alone: most introverts experience this same need to recharge alone, in a quiet space.

For me, the quiet space isn't silent. It's walking around the track with my wife. It's sitting with a cat in my lap. It could be baking, writing, or engaging in some sort of activity. People confuse my need for "less input" with a desire for "no input." Those are not the same.

I actually relax more with my wife and my cats than when I am alone. But, I don't want to be around crowds or in loud spaces. I want to be able to decompress, not experience isolation.

This is an incredibly busy year. Teaching two courses, working on three new plays, revising five plays that are in development, and trying to maintain my other to-do items. It's a lot for me, and maybe too much at this moment.

Add in some anemia, a little palsy, and I do need a nap. It's about pacing myself, too. Down time is needed to be productive later.

Today, I'm doing some basic tasks, sitting in my comfy chair and not thinking too much. That's a break from the overload, too. Simple tasks let you feel like things are getting done, and they are, but without stress.

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