Start reading again?

I'm honestly so relieved that application season is finally over (at least for now). I submitted my financial aid essays just a few days ago, and it feels like I can finally breathe. For months, I was constantly anxious, trying to juggle work and essays at the same time--which, as it turns out, is really hard.

Now I think I'm in that strange post-application limbo. My life has been revolving around grad school applications for so long that I'm not quite sure what to do with myself anymore. After work, it was always studying, reaching out to people, drafting essays, and feeling anxious all the time (lol). The anxiety isn't completely gone. I still don't know how the results will turn out. But suddenly I have time, and I don't really know how to use it.

Of course, I still have work to do, like writing a policy paper. But I also feel torn. Part of me wants to be productive, and another part of me just wants to actually rest on the weekends. I don't really want to fill this new space by taking extra work for the office (it's beyond my pay grade as well!)

So I'm thinking of going back to something I used to love: reading. I used to read all the time--at least one book a week--mostly historical fiction or romance. My books have been piling up, quietly waiting for me to return to them.

Now that I have more breathing room, I think I'll start with The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah. So many people have recommended it, so we'll see how it goes. I'm really happy that I can spend my time with books (and keyboards) again.

I'll share my thoughts once I'm done reading. :)