It's nice to be home

I recently moved back to Los Angeles after 5 years in New York City.  I've got to say it's been nice.  I haven't really done much except workout and go to job interviews.  Seriously loving funemployment at the moment but I know this can't last much longer.  There are still bills to be paid and money to be made!

Speaking of funemployment, I actually get to have this time to get to know the LA studios that participate in ClassPass.  So far I've been to 5 different studios and they were all ok.  I actually signed up for an unlimited month for one of those studios (more on this later).  If you don't know me (and most of you don't), I'm a stickler about my workout schedule.  Not only does it have to be coordinated with my work and play time (I don't like to workout in the weekends), all the classes that I take have to make sense together for what I am trying to achieve (upper body strength and a toned physique). So far, I am still trying to piece that schedule together by exploring different studios in the city.  I haven't been back that long (less than 3 weeks) and I still have a lot of studios to try.  Hopefully, I'll find ones that I like that work with my schedule.  Until then, I'll be hopping from one place to the next.

How do you figure out your workout schedule?  xoxo

Working off stress

This year started off rocky at work.  I feel extremely overworked and exhausted.  If it continues this way for the next couple of months, I will age 10 years too soon.  My solution? Work-wise, no idea.  I guess I just have to be more vigilant and conscientious even more than I have been.  I need to be systematic but also keep myself educated.  A tall order, but a necessary one.

Stress-wise, working out has been very helpful in keeping me safe.  Again, thanks to classpass, I have been adding newer workouts to my schedule just to keep it fresh.  This past month, I have tried new classes and have given old ones another chance (I'm looking at you Bikram).  So far, my favorite has to be Fit Rxn NYC.  I have only taken two classes so far but I always look forward to booking the next one.  The classes I have taken there are TRX Mash-up and 30/30.  Of the two, TRX Mash-up is definitely more intense.  I was sore for two days after this class and I haven't been sore from a workout since November 2014.  Definitely not for the faint of heart or the weak-willed as my wrists could barely handle the work but I got through it and I feel more bad-ass because of it.  30/30 is a spin/TRX combo, not as intense as the mash-up but still a good work-out (didn't make me sore at all).

This coming week I have signed up 2 strength classes, yoga and cardio.  I like having a balanced workout week.  Before I incorporated yoga into my workouts, I felt tired all the time.  With the addition of yoga, I feel more relaxed and am starting to get more flexible.  I have also fallen in love with boxing and kickboxing and even bought gloves.  These classes are added into the mix once or twice a week - my favorites are Title Boxing and Kickbox Haus.  I also try to take a barre class once a week - my favorite is FlyBarre.  No matter how many times I've done this class, it always leaves me sore.  A great core workout and never gets boring.

Working out 4-5 times a week has given me a more zen state of mind when it comes to my job.  The time I spend working out is my "me time", where I spend about an hour on just me and nothing else.  There's the added benefit of getting stronger and more fit because as the saying goes, "Summer bodies are made in the winter".

How do you guys destress?  xoxo


#classpasschallenge #passthehappy

Bye 2014, Hello 2015

I saw this post on Instagram so I thought I'd post it here.  I did mention that I like lists.

Looking back at 2014:
My favorite experience: trip to Croatia and Istanbul
My biggest accomplishment: graduating with a Master's from Columbia University. Yay me!
My favorite place to visit: Costa Rica.  I loved Croatia but I think Costa Rica stole my heart.
The best meal is: one shared with family and friends.
If I have a free day, I like to: run errands because unlike before, I only get two free days a week.
My favorite book: Unfortunately, I didn't really read much this year.
My favorite movie: I didn't see a lot of movies this year either but Guardians of the Galaxy was fun.

Looking ahead to 2015:
I want to continue to work out at least 3 times a week.
I want to try to eat healthier (less processed food), do yoga once a week
I want to stop being too cynical.
I'd like to visit these places: Thailand, Peru, Paris....too many to list
My goals for this year: grow some more balls (esp at work), work on strengthening my left arm

And because it's the start of the year, we should all start with a blank slate.  Or a blank space per Taylor Swift.  Happy New Year!!  xoxo

Decisions, decisions...

When I was in nursing school, all we heard was "It's great to be a nurse because there's so much you can do (career-wise)".  And it's really true.  You can do bedside nursing, outpatient nursing, home health, clinical office, research, etc.  Or you can go my route and go for your master's and become a nurse practitioner.  Nursing school prepared me for a lot of things - what to do in an emergency, how to take care of sick people and basically being able to think on your feet.  It did not prepare me, however, to make life decisions.

Sure, I'm in my early thirties (yikes!) and should be able to make these kinds of decisions but it's still so scary and it still shakes me to my core.  Somehow making the decision to switch to nursing and move to New York feels like an easier decision than the one I am faced with.  I always say how much I hate New York and that I can't wait to move back to California.  It should be an easy decision to just move back but somehow it's not.  I am scared about the job prospects in California.  I would only move back pending a great job offer.  BUT, does that mean I shouldn't apply to jobs here in New York?  Does that mean I should just wait it out?

All these questions are making me ill.  My stomach is in knots.  Why is it so hard to be a grown-up?  Maybe I should focus on studying for my boards instead of being distracted by life choices.

XOXO

Bad Ass

When I was a young girl, I asked my mom if I could take martial arts lessons.  She said no.

Thirty years later, I sit and wonder what would have happened if I took said classes?  I would've been a bad ass mofo who could actually kick ass.  Probably why my mom said no.  It's probably enough that I'm a bad ass.

Busy busy bee

I've been so busy since I came back from vacation.  Between work, clinicals and my master's thesis, I haven't had time to breath.

Updates:
- My summer rotation is at Brooklyn Methodist.  Travel time is about 1.5-2 hours each way so my clinical days are about 16 hours long.  Needless to say I am completely knackered by the time I get home.  At least I am enjoying my time there - great patient exposure and lots of eye candy (can't hurt, right?).

- Schoolwise, nothing going on except for working on my thesis.  It's probably gonna suck coz I hate writing but at least my scenario is not THAT complicated.

-Vacation updates and pics coming soon.  I'm tagged on a few on FB and I have about 2 on instagram, haha.  I had such a blast.  Probably the most fun vacation I've had in a LONG time.  I'll have a separate blog post about it.  If I don't do what I need to do tonight, I'll probably have it up tonight.

- Work is work.  I've requested to move back to days so I might have some semblance of a life but that's probably not happening anytime soon and I'm not quite sure it's the smartest thing to do.  Days are busier and drama-filled that I might end up more stressed out than usual.

I'm so close to being done with school.  One more semester after this summer and I'll be done for awhile.  Maybe then I'll have a life...maybe.