Hello Angel --

The academic calendar puts a lot of pressure on people. Believe it or not, faculty are stressed out too this time of year. Sometimes several hundred papers to grade on a weekend. I think most faculty do their best to create evaluation opportunities throughout the semester. The fact is, however, that we have to evaluate how much students have learned, and how well, at the end of the semester, even if we've done a good job of keeping tabs all along. And the end of the semester is the same for everyone in all classes. Bummer.

One thing that was emphasized to me throughout my academic career is that we have to create a schedule that includes exercise, and doing the laundry, and getting together with friends. I'm very bad at that, and allow the work to bleed in all hours of the day and night. And to take over my mind.

You did the right thing to create an opportunity to visit with your friends for brunch. Even if your mind didn't cooperate with the plan, it was the right thing to do, and you should feel proud of yourself. Perhaps you can learn some stress reduction techniques to help with the worry. And I guess we worrywarts just have to train ourselves to "be here now," to gently keep bringing our thoughts back to moment we are in.

I have a lot of trouble with this, too.