top of page

Something to think about, something to do

Writer's picture: Ted BradshawTed Bradshaw

Since returning to work since my “official time off” over Christmas, I have really noticed that I have found it has been taking some time to unwind or “switch off” in the evenings. In fact, it is probably more accurate to say that while I can gradually unwind, it doesn’t really get to a point where I feel my mind is “switched off” from work or home tasks altogether.

 

This can be frustrating, particularly when you have had some time off and did manage to unwind. It can leave you feeling like the ability to switch off only exists when you are on holiday, and not when you are in “the real world” and back to juggling work and home life.

 

There has also inevitably been a fair bit of illness flying around in our house. I had one day in particular where I was feverish and aching, and I just couldn’t really do much. On that day, I noticed that actually, I did switch off. It was an inconvenient time to get ill, I didn’t want to be ill, but I could mentally relax. What’s going on there?

 

For me, this is about permission to rest.

 

When I am off or ill, there is a mental shift to “I am not going to do anything and that is completely reasonable.” There is a clear line that I am not going to cross, because I have full permission to. However there is a persistent, nagging sense that I could be doing something, and that therefore perhaps I should.

 

Something to think about 

 

Different things will work for different people, so a good starting point for working out what might be useful for you is this:

 

When you do feel able to switch off, what are you like? How do you think? How do you physically feel? What do you do with your time?

 

Is there any way you can replicate some of that?

 

Something to do

 

Here are some other ideas to try:

 

Cues: giving yourself a strong hint that this is now time to switch off. Some examples:

  • Setting your out of office at the end of the day.

  • Taking a minute or two to breathe between signing off or leaving work.

  • Having a shower or going for a walk: a big physical cue that we are moving from one mentality to another.

 

More involved activity

 

If you know your nagging feeling of “should be doing something” is going to be set off while you are not doing much else, build in time where you are away from those pressures. If possible, get out of the house for a while. Meet someone or go to a class. If you are at home, do something that takes your attention enough, something tactile and interesting. Something that involves physical movement, touch, taste or smell.

 

Thanks for reading! Until next week,

 

Ted

 

P.S. Let me know if there are other things that work for you. I would love to hear some!

Comments


Fancy getting each post straight to your inbox every Monday? Sign up here!

Success! Thank you for signing up

bottom of page