I didn’t go to school today. I woke up a bit late, and although I felt great physically, I skipped my morning workout. However, I stuck with my meditation, which left me feeling refreshed and energized. I then started my work session using the Pomodoro technique, focusing mainly on revising my thesis. I addressed one of the reviewers’ comments and drew several new figures.
In the afternoon, I met up with my colleague Nan for tennis, playing from 8:30 until after 10. Anticipating how thirsty I’d be afterward, I bought a watermelon from K Supermarket and brought it along. Nan’s technique has improved noticeably; she was able to rally with me for several exchanges, which made me feel really proud. During the break, I also played a few points with Wen Shuai, a colleague who’s great at tennis. Although my energy levels dropped significantly in the second half, and I even felt a bit of discomfort in my stomach, the whole experience was incredibly exhilarating. This was by far the most enjoyable tennis session I’ve had here.
After the game, we sat by the river, cut open the watermelon, and shared the sweet flesh with spoons while chatting. I shared my recent methods for learning English and voiced my worries about finding a job after graduation. Nan offered me lots of advice, which put me at ease.
We then walked back to Kide, the Aalto building where I work, changed clothes, and took a ride home. On the way, I enjoyed the lemon-flavored yogurt Nan gave me—it tasted amazing. The joy I felt in my body and mind after the exercise made me decide to keep this activity as a weekly habit, especially on Friday nights when I can really let loose and sweat it out.
Tomorrow, I’ll continue working to finish revising and resubmitting my thesis as soon as possible, maintaining this good momentum.