JOURNALS

Saturday has been a mixed bag. Typically, weekends are about winding down, but since IKEA had a delivery planned, it was hard to fully relax. I had a few terrible B-movies on in the morning, a nostalgic trip back to the '80s and '90s horror genre. The kind of movies where the plot's as flimsy as the set, but in a charming way. While the movies droned on, I got through some grocery unpacking, the mundane tasks we don’t give much thought to, but get the essentials ticked off.

Getting IKEA furniture isn't as magical as it might sound. Despite being seasoned with their legendary assembly instructions, I still struggle with the tall shelves that barely fit in my corridor. There’s something mildly victorious about seeing a completed shelf standing tall, a trophy marking the day’s work. As much as I’d like to have wrapped up the entire room, that part’s going to be tomorrow’s mission. Moving books upstairs—an adventure in its own right.

Amidst all this productivity, there was a lingering reminder of last night’s headache. These cluster headaches have a knack for playing hide and seek with my sanity. They sidle in quietly late at night, making it tricky to find relief. It’s the caffeine that usually beats them back, but I’m mindful of each day’s intake. Thankfully, today’s approach of staying off screens kept them in check. All this has taught me is sometimes simplicity works—the less planned weekend might just be what the doctor ordered.

Shelves sorted, it’s all feeling a little more spacious. Adding structure to chaos, just a small dent in what needs to be done. But as far as days go, it's fitting that putting furniture together represents both challenge and reward, an analogy I didn’t mean to sneak in. For now, though, the mind’s not on jargon, admin, or creativity. Today was about chilling and trying new things, and that theme is something I’m evidently becoming fond of. Here’s to dodging headaches and small victories in flat-pack form.