The New Normal: COVID-19 and the Struggle for Balance
That was one hell of a Saturday that just slipped past me. Between five hours of yard work and another hour repairing my ancient washing machine (only to learn that I need another part, which I ordered last night), I completely forgot that I had scheduled a 7PM software update for my day job. I finally started that at 10PM and was finished in about 45 minutes.
I forced myself to remain awake for another hour to finish watching a Joe Rogan podcast with Mel Gibson and Dr. Neil Riordan about stem cell treatments for injuries and chronic pain. Rather timely, given the aches and pains resulting from these four to six hour stretches of yard work as of late. I ain’t gettin’ any younger, as my back, knees, and shoulders consistently remind me.
Speaking of reminders, I had planned to write for about an hour this morning, until I recalled that for the past three weeks, I’ve not been able to make time to watch two 90-minute training videos pertaining to my volunteer work with CERT (Community Emergency Response Team).
I watched the first of two this morning—Operational Stress Control in the COVID-19 Pandemic. The focus was on recognizing and treating the stress among overburdened first responders and health care workers. I am neither, but as a support tech, some of that information was appropriate.
I’ll save the second video, Behavior and Communications in Public Health Emergencies, for later tonight after a few hours of housechores.
While scanning past posts on my Facebook author page, I was appalled to note that I haven’t made time to write in 11 days. Extreme and unpredictable work hours definitely wreak havoc with one’s personal life, not to mention the enervating power of exhaustion and burnout. Of course, I have little room to complain. I’m not a healthcare worker. They are the true heroes right now and need our support. I’m merely an IT support tech, and as of late, that has meant 12-14 hour days and a few 60-80 hour weeks.
Then there’s the domino effect that occurs in your schedule when your job devours your personal life and the time allotted to other activities such as self care, writing, yard work, house chores, home repairs, etc. Now, you’re scrambling to catch up with all of that and inevitably, some of the above will be neglected. Balance will be lost. It happens. Don’t beat yourself up over it.
I’m doing the best I can to manage my time and I know you are, too. When stress, anxiety, and depression threaten to overtake me, I stop and acknowledge all that I have accomplished as of late, especially since this crisis began. I’ve simply been too busy working and struggling to stop and appreciate that. I’ve also had more than my share of raging meltdowns over the past month and these were a wake-up call.
During these distressing and uncertain times, be sure to stop and take care of yourself and acknolwedge that you’re doing the best you can.
There’s always more work to be done, but there is only one YOU.
I forced myself to remain awake for another hour to finish watching a Joe Rogan podcast with Mel Gibson and Dr. Neil Riordan about stem cell treatments for injuries and chronic pain. Rather timely, given the aches and pains resulting from these four to six hour stretches of yard work as of late. I ain’t gettin’ any younger, as my back, knees, and shoulders consistently remind me.
Speaking of reminders, I had planned to write for about an hour this morning, until I recalled that for the past three weeks, I’ve not been able to make time to watch two 90-minute training videos pertaining to my volunteer work with CERT (Community Emergency Response Team).
I watched the first of two this morning—Operational Stress Control in the COVID-19 Pandemic. The focus was on recognizing and treating the stress among overburdened first responders and health care workers. I am neither, but as a support tech, some of that information was appropriate.
I’ll save the second video, Behavior and Communications in Public Health Emergencies, for later tonight after a few hours of housechores.
While scanning past posts on my Facebook author page, I was appalled to note that I haven’t made time to write in 11 days. Extreme and unpredictable work hours definitely wreak havoc with one’s personal life, not to mention the enervating power of exhaustion and burnout. Of course, I have little room to complain. I’m not a healthcare worker. They are the true heroes right now and need our support. I’m merely an IT support tech, and as of late, that has meant 12-14 hour days and a few 60-80 hour weeks.
Then there’s the domino effect that occurs in your schedule when your job devours your personal life and the time allotted to other activities such as self care, writing, yard work, house chores, home repairs, etc. Now, you’re scrambling to catch up with all of that and inevitably, some of the above will be neglected. Balance will be lost. It happens. Don’t beat yourself up over it.
I’m doing the best I can to manage my time and I know you are, too. When stress, anxiety, and depression threaten to overtake me, I stop and acknowledge all that I have accomplished as of late, especially since this crisis began. I’ve simply been too busy working and struggling to stop and appreciate that. I’ve also had more than my share of raging meltdowns over the past month and these were a wake-up call.
During these distressing and uncertain times, be sure to stop and take care of yourself and acknolwedge that you’re doing the best you can.
There’s always more work to be done, but there is only one YOU.
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