Hello, It’s been a while!
I knew I needed to write an article ages ago but had been procrastinating and couldn’t work out why. I knew what I wanted to write about and yet would find myself cleaning the bathroom or doing the laundry, doing anything but what I needed to do.
My procrastination carried on for some time and then I caught Covid and felt really quite unwell with overwhelming fatigue. I managed to add ‘Not’ doing my newsletter to a long list of activities that I ‘Should’ be doing and then started to feel guilty about it.
My Inner critic was having a field day, reminding me that I needed to just get on with it, that I should know how to manage my fatigue (I teach fatigue management as part of my NHS job as an occupational therapist), and lots of self judgement around how I was being lazy, wasting time, not focusing on anything. As you know education and knowledge don’t necessarily add up to action, and sometimes you can know what to do but actually doing it can be hard!
It took a while for me to realise that I was really resisting what was happening to me and to really listen to what my body was telling me. This meant removing the pressure on myself to do things and to let go, start trying to say ‘No’ to things, not a natural skill of mine!
It meant focusing on my energy levels and working out what I needed. I really focused on keeping my energy topped up using rest and meditation and I have started to love a cheeky afternoon nap! I didn’t get it right every time, but slowly I have had more energy and am beginning to feel more like myself and am ready to focus more on what I want. For me this will be opening my books for a couple more coaching clients and working out what I want the coaching to be next, a women’s support group, fatigue management group? Who knows?
So, my question to you is do you have a regular practice of checking in with yourself? If you do, you could take some time to think or journal about these questions:
- What are your energy levels like right now?
- Do you know what gives you energy?
- Do you know what depletes your energy?
- Does your energy level match your daily activities and if not, what change do you need to bring into your life?
Let me know your thoughts or if you think I can help then contact me.
Keep focusing on what you need and take care of yourself,
With love,
Vicki xx