Monday Migraine: Tension Headaches and TMJ 2:20 PM

This weekend was not as relaxing as I would hope. Though I wasn't exactly running around like crazy--I was plagued by the worst headaches. Though I did sneak in a long gym session and got my bike maintenancedI spent most of my time on the couch. Figuring some Advil, water and good movies would help but no. One movie in and I felt worse. By Sunday night I ended up in bed at 10pm and slept til 8pm because my head hurt so much. I'm 90% sure that the headaches are caused by TMJ--the nuisance in my life. But I still wish I had a way to get rid of them. Do any of you have crippling migraines? How do you treat and prevent them?

Post Grad (re)Connections 8:29 PM

It's a rainy cold day in Los Angeles and while perusing Twitter, I found this great USA Today Education blog, "15 Things I've learned as a Post-Grad" by Charlsie Niemiec.

All fifteen points are very well thought out and I've come to many of the same conclusions in the last year.

But Number Seven is my favorite.

7. Reconnecting with friends you lost contact with isn’t such a bad idea.
After graduation, everyone goes his or her own way, so you never know who might
surprise you in hopes of reconnecting.

Best point ever. Not only does this apply to real friends---but missed connections. Acquaintances and classmates you only know through email and facebook.

You know back in your sophomore year when you took that class about Ancient Chinese Art and you had the presentation partner who was actually a cool kid? But then you never kept in touch.

That happened a lot to me. Especially at NYU. In a school of 35,000 undergraduates it is expected. But as an LA transplant, the NYU in LA kids really seek each other out.

I met up for lunch with an old classmatefrom a sophomore year who I have not seen for literally three and half years. But I noticed that he moved to LA (thanks Facebook) and we met up.

It was great! Such a good idea because I feel like had I gone to smaller school--we would have been friends.

I encourage you, readers, not only to have a LinkedIn and a Facebook but to also be brave and reach out to people you haven't talked to in a long time. After college, everyone loses their footing and has to start over again--worst case they ignore you.

Good luck!

Re-evaulating My Time and Making a Habit 5:34 PM

I'm very lucky that I was able to be employed right out of college. I work for a great company in a great department. But in the end--it's still a 9-6 job and I graduated with BFA. I need something creative goshdarnit.

Unfortunately as most students, recent graduates and not so recent graduates know--it's not 6-11 creative stuff after I come home from work at 7.

First of all, when I come home from I generally get distracted by other things. Like how I think I'm going to get up and go to the gym at 5:30am. And making meals for the next few days. Paying bills.

Not terribly exciting right?

Then there are worldly distractions such as Netflix and Hulu. Do I want to watch a Bones and Booth solve their latest DC murder with the squints? Or catch up on Nikita? Or watch this DVD of Exit Through the Gift Shop that has been laying on my desk for the last month.

While these options are more exciting and are furthering my knowledge of my industry, still not what I'm talking about.

Then what about writing articles for web publications, this blog, tweeting. Or look--xyz.com is looking for contributing writers.

Better but not quite.

As you can see, my mind is really distracted lately. I have so many options and not enough time to cover all of them. So what is the best way to maintain focus?

Unfortunately, creativity isn't necessarily and on and off switch. But I think the most important thing is that I put my butt in my chair, stay off the internet, and write. I might write pure crap.

But at least I'm putting in the hours and forming a good habit.

Reader Question:
What's your advice for forming a hobby keeping habit?

Weekend Read 3.4.2011 11:17 PM

This week's weekend read relates to all things spring, new and fresh. This includes discovering places, things and twitter handles

1. Top Five Twitter Handles to Follow 2011 [Fit Bottomed Girls]
2. Are Business Cards Passe? [The Financialite]
3. Five Great Ways to Spring Clean Your Resume [Business Insider]
   
4. Where to Go Now: Getting Most of Your Dollar [LearnVest]

Though these were all super exciting articles--LearnVest's shout to Buenos Aires made me ecstatic! I want to go back to BA!