Hey gang! Another week, another Weekly Balance. Let’s have a look back at the past seven days in my life and what I’ve learnt from it.

What went on in my doctor life…

While the COVID-19 pandemic continues, I’m going to leave out this section of The Weekly Balance for now. I can’t share the specifics of my day to day work – its not appropriate for many reasons, but confidentiality is the main one. I would also guess that many of you, like me, enjoy taking time to switch off from all things pandemic, and I hope these weekly posts might help with that a little. I hope you guys can understand that, and thank you! I am continuing to share COVID-19 update posts on my Instagram at least once per week – you can check those out here.

What I’m thinking about…

Exams! I have exams coming up pretty soon, and so I’m back in the studying frame of mind. I’m taking a break for a couple of weeks from social media, because I want to be free of the potential for distraction that it brings. It feels a bit strange to be logging out and deleting the apps for the short period, but I’m also looking forward to it. I will continue the COVID-19 update posts, book reviews and other content once I have my exams behind me, but until then, I’m trying to keep the focus where it should be – off social media! There will be a break for a week or two for the Weekly Balance as well, and I look forward to writing it again soon.

What I’m reading…

Recently I finished The Pull of the Stars by Emma Donoghue, and what an incredible book this is. It’s a funny sort of escapism when you escape from life during a pandemic into the story of another, but that’s exactly what this book gave to me, and I loved it. The Pull of the Stars is a fiction novel set in 1918 in Dublin, right in the middle of the (real) global influenza pandemic of the time. This particular strain of flu severely impacted young people in particular – and the contrast between current science and technology and what was available in 1918 couldn’t be more stark. You really get a sense of this contrast in the book – it made me very reflective on how far we have come, particularly in medicine and in social norms in Ireland, since. The protagonist, Nurse Julia Power, is a midwife working in a Dublin hospital, in a tiny makeshift ward caring for women who are pregnant and have contracted influenza. Over the course of just three days, this novel tells the story of Nurse Power and her work, the incredible volunteer she meets, Bridie Sweeney, and the rebel Dr. Lynn. Plus, the diverse, scared but strong women suffering through influenza, trying to make it so that their newborn will too. It is a rollercoaster of a storyline with many twists and turns, and at times not for the faint hearted, but I have to say this was one of the best books I’ve read this year and I’d say 100% get it on your list. If you don’t want to read about another pandemic, totally fair enough, but save it for a time when you feel like it. Pure escapism. Reading – this is why I love it so much.

As always, let me know what you’re reading in the comments below! I’m currently reading I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou. 

What I’m listening to…

This week, I’ve listened to a few great podcasts. My favourite was the latest episode of the Michelle Obama podcast (which is probably my current favourite podcast in general these days), where she discusses growing up in Chicago with her brother Craig. It’s a funny, heart-warming, laugh-out-loud listen, and definitely the best of the week for me.

I also loved the latest episode of the Oprah Super Soul Sundays podcast, which was an interview with Hugh Jackman. It’s a chat about his career, his life, and his reflections on it from where he is now. It’s also an episode that will make you smile ear to ear.

My current Audible is The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas and I’ve got about fifteen minutes left I think! It has been one of the best (possibly the best?) audiobooks I’ve ever listened to, because it’s a great book but also because the narrator is absolutely fantastic.

Recipe of the Week

The recipe I’m loving this week is my Peanut Butter and Berry Breakfast Bakes – a quick and easy recipe to whip up, and ideal for a new week ahead! You can find the recipe here.

And that’s a wrap for this week gang! If you want to get in touch, you can find me @theirishbalance on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. I hope you have a lovely week ahead folks – remember, stay informed with the advice from your local health authority, stay safe, wash your hands, keep your distance and be kind!

Ciara 🙂 x