Just thought about this one. Like, just now. Been making a list of blog topics for clients, work and Authentic for what seems like months, and feel this is an important one to get down for me, and to possibly help others feeling in a similar way.
I'm not averse to sharing my struggles with my mental health, but this is more about general life. Day to day adult shit. The stuff that can, over time, drag you down or – when it goes "right" – lift you up unexpectedly.
I hope reading this little hippy random rant sparks something for someone. Lets one person know they're not alone in sometimes feeling like this, and that it's absolutely fine to work with the ebbs and flows, and time and energy, that we all have.
And, yeah, part of it is me writing this down and getting it out of my head. So what. If it helps me and that other person, meh. Don't feel obliged to read on; we're all different.
November nights
New parents, both juggling back at work with their own stresses; multiple apps going off; sometimes working in the evening; making time for us as a couple; a (gorgeous) on-the-verge of teething baby; three days of iffy tummies (I'm being polite); dark mornings, dark evenings; lack of sunlight; less time (no motivation) to exercise; eating shite; almost turning 34 – can you hear the solo violin?!
Don't know if anyone else relates to (some) of that. Life is fucking busy. See friends, see family, keep fit, be more Hinch or Kondo, plan the holidays, walk more, drink less (!), make a start on the list of books you actually want to get through – remember how much you liked reading? – get on that online course you really wanted to do, medi-fucking-tate.
Every now and again – and this is a 'now' – I try to take some time and attempt to recalibrate. Sometimes happens in advance of me feeling low, like now, sometimes I catch it during a bad spell. Either way, it helps.
The Life Garden
Hands up, stole this metaphor from 'The art of stopping time (practical mindfulness for busy people)' – it's a good book. And it's on my long list to read... this is from the first chapter...
"Imagine your life is a garden. You have limited water and need to leave space for plants (things in your life) to flourish... Some are bigger and more important for you than others (family, health etc.?). Some you may not like but feel obliged to keep there... Some may require more time and energy than others.
"Get realistic about how many plants you need to water and cultivate. You have room for 5-10 plants, and that's it. Guard against any new ones that may be introduced, and pull up those old ones sucking valuable resources from your most important plants."
Try recalibrating
Writing a list usually works for me. That said, I now have 6-7 lists on different platforms/in different notebooks. Time for the master list.
What is important to me now? Baby. Wife. Friends. Family. Dog. Maybe more, some on the horizon in 2020, but that's the core for right now.
Other things – work, exercise, food, books – it can wait. Pop them on the back-burner. You have time. Whatever you do, try not to let them detract from the most important things in your life – keep it mind it’s all a balance and there is no ‘perfect’.
Figure out, in your own time, what is MOST important to you. What makes you happiest? What do you want to keep in your life garden, and do more of, and what do you want to ...cut back or cut out?
Anyway, signing off. Give it a try and let me know what you think.