Well-being

Each year I get to pick a "shared value" of my work team, and demonstrate throughout the year that I'm working on it. This year I've chosen "valuing our well-being" and am noting the "our" - it's not going to be all about me... But it can start with me :-)
I've found that - especially when I work a late night, but even when I don't - I'm prone to waking up in the middle of the night, mulling tasks over, planning what to do next. I'm going to try various strategies to stop doing this, beginning with firmly (but gently) telling myself "not now" and deliberately shifting my thoughts, repeatedly if they get dragged back. I'm increasing my attempts at calming yoga each night. And will look out for other strategies too. Of course I don't want to find I'm adding to my stress by piling pressure onto the first work based frets with a follow up of " I'm meant to be evidencing that I'm getting better at this"!
I think it's an important attitude and one others could consider too. Yesterday I knew that I was doing the driver behind a favour, but he didn't see it like that with his gesturing and grumbling. But if I had ploughed into the cyclists in front who were turning right, he'd have had to use even more of his day sat there, to give a witness statement etc. I tried to be generous towards him, maybe he was desperate to get to hospital to be with a dying loved one. We never know what's going on for anyone else.
When we don't prioritize our wellbeing, my experience says our bodies take it upon themselves to make us do so, and we get sick so that we have to slow down, reassess and hopefully learn. Today is one of those fabulous days when I didn't have to set an alarm, and there is nowhere I have to be at any time of today. Of course there are things that need doing... If I miss a day of laundry it starts to pile up, and I do need to plan Sunday school for tomorrow. And the leaking tap is bugging me. But mainly today I can tune into my flow and go with it. I hope you too get a day like that soon.

Knitting rainbows

My partner is a tele watching kind of person. I'm not a tele watching kind of person. But I've found a compromise - if I can knit Christmas presents (scarves, I only do straight lines) during his quiz shows then it works ok for me. If he's watching - I say watching, sometimes it's more background - a programme with a storyline I've learned it's best if I go and read upstairs as otherwise I'm unwillingly sucked into the narrative when he's not necessarily watching anyway. My aging eyes are not so good now at shifting between the screen and the knitting, so I can only knit if I'm not actually wanting to view what's on.
Today's a full on day of church (Fijian lunch after the Harvest service) then work over Manchester way, so I'm pleased to have managed lots of relaxing yesterday. Book group book in the bath, film cuddled up on the sofa in the evening, plus a lovely stint of volunteering in the morning. I do like it when I achieve balance!