Props for the tired one or ramblings for the masses

I finally took the time to learn how to have titles for my posts. It's the best thing that happened today.
I've been trying to recover from a super-long and stressful week. I am realizing that I need to set better limits with my time. Life is a bit out of control right now.
It's 44 days into my resolution of not buying anything (see stated exceptions). So far it hasn't been a problem; in a way, it's easier. After working way too many hours this weekend, I felt I needed a reward but was able to just observe my desire for something new and shiny. It passed.
I'm thinking I need to give up something that's more of a sacrifice, like eating out or driving whenever I want. Then it brings me back to setting limits. I need more time to make more drastic changes in my life. Being better about saying "no" is a good start.

Third time's a charm

In my second semester of college, my roommate and I made a resolution to start the year off on the right foot, which we literally made a point of doing on our way to our first class that year. I vowed to be more organized and diligent about studying. After doing the bare minimum the semester before, I learned that I would not be able to make straight-A's if I didn't put more effort into my studies. I had made my first C and the rest were monstly B's.
The school where I went was located in a rural area of Vermont. Situated on a hilltop in a converted farmstead, it boasted a robust attendance of 270 students. Fewer lived on campus. I enjoyed staying in the dorms and getting to know other students who came from other parts of the US and the world. After growing up in a very rural area in the Midwest, 200-some students living in a few square miles was a change for me. I liked having people nearby who had similar interests and some who liked to procrastinate, too....
I preferred hanging out with my new friends more than reading pedantic books on enlightened despotism or memorizing the cases for German prepositions. Plus, I had never really had to study before because I was used to being able to figure out new things pretty quickly in high school. However, in college I wasn't used to the quantity of material and the speed at which it was covered in my classes.
When the second semster rolled around, I wanted to do much better. I needed to stop slacking. I HAD to get A's. The first two weeks went well.
Then the problems started. I had been ill with mononucleosis over that winter break, but felt almost 100% better by the time classes started. I had decided to take a full load and was determined to pass the clear writing requirement at the end of the sememster (this was in preparation for the plan of concentration students had to complete to graduate). Then I had a relapse.
The next six weeks I mostly laid in bed trying to rest and get better. I had to drop two classes. My grades turned out to be about the same as the semester before. Eventually I got my strength back.

2008 has started similarly for me. When I went back to work, I had ideas of being more organized while increasing my productivity. I felt good after resting for two weeks, but after three days back to work, I got a sudden intense pain in my neck and couldn't drive home. The next day I had chills and fever, and shortly after I came down with a cold. This was the third major (lasting 6+ days) cold I'd had in six months. After staying home from work a couple of half-days I went to the doctor. (I'm someone who needs "permission" to stay home for more than one day.) She thought it was just a cold but did some tests. I turns out that I have mono for the third time. Bleh...
I'm finally getting to the point where I feel better. The neck pain is almost gone, and I'm no longer stuffed up. I still am tired, though. I took off two full days from work in the past couple weeks, but I have been trying to work only 8-hour days.
The problem is that I'm really behind in my work and I don't know how I'm going to catch up. I'm probably going to have to work ~50 hours next week.
On the other hand, getting sick again has let me reevaluate some of my goals. I know I need to set better limits with my time and try to get more balanced. I need to make this my priority. And I need to sleep...