Work is a waste of time

Usually, even though I don't want to, I see the semester as that: a semester. A 16 week project that I get breaks from on the weekends, sometimes. You know what? I hate that. This semester, esp with my greatly reduced workload, I've got to try to learn to see the semester as individual days. 3 days a week, for only a short period of time each day.

Over the past few semesters, I've gotten very good at leaving work at work--physically. The grading gets done there (with only the occasional exception), the prep gets done there, the emailing gets done there. But it's still with me in my head, mentally, all the time. At home, or when I'm supposed to be on a date with my husband, or when I'm hugging the dogs or having a swim--my head is planning what I need to do when I get to work, to ensure that I don't have to bring anything home! Or my head is planning several outfits for the week in relation to when I have to shave my legs so that I can minimize my getting-ready time in the morning. No kidding.

I've got to cut that out. Any suggestions? Is it like that for the rest of you who teach?

In other news, I am "retiring" either at Christmastime or summertime, depending on how I feel. I'll be taking one year off of work. There are two reasons for that. A)One-Year Renewables have to take at least one semester without pay during each five years. So, I'll "have" to do it soon anyway. B) I'm sick of performing. I'm sick of having to look nice every day, put on a nice face for my classes, be energetic and accomodating. I'm sick of it! Many times in my life, when I've gotten sick of something, I just quit and go do something else. It may be time for me to do that now. But we'll see. Maybe going into "retirement" for a little while is all I need.