Checking in
- Mike Douglas
- 17 hours ago
- 2 min read
It’s been, well… pretty much 14 months of constant go; at work and at home. The usual slow downs in January and August didn’t happen. At work we had extra reporting and events and at home all the moving related things.
In the last year at home, we’ve moved, Laura’s been off work, we’ve both had bouts of illness, I’ve broken down at least three times from burnout, once from depression and had two or three panic attacks (it’s nice to mix it up). It’s just been a lot.
As we come into November we are both making decisions on what we want our lives to look like, and how we better manage our own wellbeing. For me I think that may involve committing to less, and making more of the things I do commit to. I also need to consider my working environment, with our move I’ve lost my home workspace and I need to think about how I can make a space I can comfortably work in 3-4 days a week.
Speaking of home. There’s also all the house ideas and plans, I really should record and prioritise these, rather than have them all in my head. All fighting for attention, all the time. I want to (and some of the time do) enjoy the planning and redrawing of plans, being creative rather than get overloaded by the stress of getting everything done and hoping it fits what everyone needs.
We (mostly Henry) have been watching more Thomas & Friends lately. I've found it so noticeable that all their value and self worth is wrapped up in a very capitalist value system of 'productivity equals worth'. Where there is a constant focus on being "a really useful engine" and I cant help feeling I measure my own self worth on a similar scale of needing to be 'really useful' and productive all of the time. Switching to standby is the closest I come to being 'off' and resting. But for how many years have I said that?
While November comes with it's own activities and tasks, I am hoping that I'm working towards a healthier mindset and workload. I've got a toddler to keep up with.
Maybe in the next post I've reflect on the jobs completed? Or is that too productivity focused again? We'll see.
Happy October. Here's to learning to slow down.
Blogger's note: This post does not include sponsored content. None of the services, projects, campaigns or charities mentioned have seen this post before it is published, nor have they instructed me on what to say. The views, experiences, thoughts and insights expressed in this post are my own. The links included are direct web links and are not affiliate links.
Additional links and signposting:
Samaritans - Listening service
Anxiety UK - Anxiety and Stress
Local Minds - Find your local Mind (mental health service)
Mental Health UK - Burnout
Mind - Self Care for depression
