Just One Day in the Life
Life can be challenging, especially for someone with creative tendencies who has returned to college while managing chronic pain every day. As for me, I am constantly adapting how I structure my days. No matter how many times I try to establish a routine, I often drift away from it because I have spent most of my life learning how to wing it.
Unless my schedule has been completely thrown off, my mornings usually begin somewhere between 7:00 and 8:00 a.m. My bedtime is far less predictable and can fall anywhere between 10:00 p.m. and 2:00 a.m. I'm no spring chicken anymore. At thirty-two, getting ready for the day takes a little more time than it used to. Sometimes it takes me five minutes to get dressed, and other times it takes two hours just to have my coffee. Either way, I get it done.
An example of my current desk setup.
The first thing I do each morning is take my medication before I even get out of bed. Doing it this way ensures I won't forget once the day gets moving. These days, instead of opioids, I take an antidepressant and magnesium to help manage chronic pain and reduce migraines. A few doses of acetaminophen aid with the day-to-day pain as well. After my single cup of coffee—the usual amount—I either take my dog, Estella, outside or head downstairs to my computer.
My computer is essentially my command center. It is where I spend most of my time because it serves as the hub for both my schoolwork and my creative pursuits. Behind my computer desk sits a drafting table that can be raised or lowered for drawing, allowing me to easily move between academic work and art projects. As a gamer and streamer, I've also built a setup that works well for college. Two monitors make it easy to juggle lectures, assignments, and research, while a noise-canceling headset and quality microphone help me stay connected with classmates, instructors, and faculty.
Outside of class, much of my social interaction happens through direct messages. Students check in with one another, compare notes on assignments, celebrate successes, and offer support when things become overwhelming. One of the most surprising things someone might notice if they followed me around for a day isn't that my routine is chaotic, but that I manage to accomplish so much simply by flowing from one task to another. There always seems to be something that needs doing.
What people may not immediately see is the chronic pain that accompanies everything I do. If someone truly spent a day in my shoes, they would experience the constant balancing act of deciding what is worth spending energy on and what has to wait. Chronic pain influences every decision I make. Sometimes I push myself too hard, and the consequences can linger for days. A stressful week can easily turn into a week-long migraine, whether caused by tension, poor sleep, stress, or even something as simple as not eating properly.
My personal time and schoolwork often blend together. I tend to spend less time studying and more time completing assignments because I absorb a great deal during lectures. If I am fully engaged in class, I usually retain enough information that extensive studying isn't necessary outside of assigned readings.
When I am not working on coursework, my time is spent doing the things that keep me grounded. I enjoy cooking and, surprisingly to some people, cleaning. I spend time with Estella, my dog, as well as my partner and his parents. Most evenings include dinner while watching Frasier or another sitcom, followed by practicing piano, working on art, playing a video game, or curling up with a good book.
No two days look exactly alike, and that is something I have learned to accept. Living with chronic pain means flexibility is often more valuable than routine. Some days I accomplish everything on my list. Other days, simply making it through the day is enough. Through it all, I continue creating, learning, and moving forward one day at a time.
