Life Imbalanced
Hello Everyone,
Ok So I know that I kind of stink at this whole social media blogging thing, but I am trying.
Not to sound like a whiny brat but I work a full time job and am also trying to write my novel and not completely lose my mind whilst I am at it.
So today I am going to try and talk about balance, for the last 2 years my life has been in a period of upheaval... Issue 1 outside influences that I had absolutely no control over, Issue 2 my health that I also had no hold over at the time and, Issue 3 my own mental approach to everything happening.
Today I will outline what has been causing the Imbalances, and I will follow up soon with another blog post outlining my self care routines and products and the like to rectify some of these imbalances.
So starting at the beginning,
1. Outside Influences.
The company I had been working for went into liquidation. I had worked there for 5 & a half years and I honestly enjoyed my job. When this company went out of business I had no clue what to do.
I was upset at the situation I and my fellows had been left in but I was also sad that the company had gone under.
I was extremely lucking in that it was only 2 days until I found a casual job, I was in a few positions within this company for around 5 months when I was asked to interview for a permanent Position at another company by a wonderful woman, (who knows who she is if reading this!) and i ended up working there for 11 months.
At this point I was contacted and asked to stop in by a manager from the initial company who then offered me a role in the company he is with, a company that is much closer to home and so I accepted.
I do not relish in the fact that I have essentially had 3 jobs in 2 years, I am a person who revels in stability when it comes to my work and my work spaces.
There were also major differences in travel times, Job 1 30-40 minutes travel each way, job 2 15-20 minutes each way, Job 3 1-2 hours each way depending on traffic, 5-10 minutes each way.
2. Physical Health & Well-being.
In the 4 years my health issues have also gotten worse and as such I started seeing my doctor more. But they were markedly worse in the last 2 years.
I have a hard time explaining to even my closest family and friends as to my issues, they often look to the weight I've gained and just assume that is the cause of the health issues, in reality it is a side effect of the condition. A side effect I find hard to control and am often upset by.
I have now been given a plan by the doctors to follow, and I follow it as closely as possible it even allows for slip ups that are bound to happen.
I don't really step onto scales except in the doctors office at check ups and I try to go by my clothes in regards to week to week progress, it won't happen over night.
I now track my sleep and food along with daily steps, heart rate and exercise via a fit bit, which I never would have even considered buying over a year ago, I am now addicted to the data and understanding my body. I also have to manually chart my temperatures throughout the day to present to the doctor at check ups. The more that I can understand out my body and its reactions to certain foods and activities the better I can look after it and live my life comfortably.
I have altered my diet to be more real nourishing food and less convenience food. Due to my lack of energy I was often reaching for high energy full sugar foods that would only increase the viciousness of the cycle. The drop was excruciating, I was shaking and nauseous, of a nasty temperament and had headaches and fatigue. But I got past it. 3 days later and the worst was over, but I still have the cravings and I still occasionally give in. (last night I had a McFlurry and Frozen Coke for example) Treats are allowed in controlled amounts, don't let the cravings get to binge level and ensure that it is balanced by a healthy day.
I have learnt that self care is harder for me than taking a long bath on a Friday night to relax, it is a day by day choice by choice issue that I personally grapple with every day. But that is okay, completely and totally okay because this is what my body requires to be okay. For you it may be completely different. You might be that person completely able to relax on a Friday with a long soak in the tub, some candles and music and be ready for the next week at that is amazing do what works best for you, that is the point of self care after all.
3. Mental Health
Lastly I have to note Mental Health, yes I capitalized that! Why? Because it it just as important as your physical health!
I know that mental health issues have become less taboo to talk about over the last decade as people slowly but surely accept study results and look more into how to help. But there is still a long way to go let's not kid ourselves.
I have struggled with depression since I was a teenager and have tried some medications which did not work for me, the decision was made to see a therapist instead and that helped a lot more for me.
Again, everyone is different and what works for me may not work for you please ensure that you do what works best for you!
I had regular session for 2 years sorting out my head space and creating mental exercises that would ground me and help me deal with the down days, essential rewiring my brain to take a more positive look at the world.
I no longer have such regular sessions but I do still check in and essentially maintain the work I did, especially if the situations I am in are stressful or emotional. I found that having that person to talk to in a non judgmental neutral setting was beyond helpful for me in processing the down moments.
Everyone is different and everyone processes their circumstances differently.
I will link some sites that you can go to for help if you feel like you need it, and if you do feel like you need it Please Take The Help. I cannot express it enough that the help is there please please take it.
I also started taking time to myself and focusing on doing things I liked or working towards a dream goal. I picked up my pen and dusted off my keyboard and starting writing again. Small notes, dabbles and ideas and then a thought hit me hard and I realized that I had to write it, I had to write this book because I had to read this book! I had passion back in my life, real passion for a project, a passion that I have been missing for years.
For me getting these last 2 points wrangled was a major step to accepting the first, change happens. You can't stop it, but you can ebb and flow with it. You can be grateful for the bits you can control, and you can allow yourself to have time to process it.
I will follow this blog post up shortly with another outlining some of the steps I take and tools I utilize regarding my mental and physical health so keep an eye out for that too.
Helpful Links:
Sane Australia - https://www.sane.org/ - Sane Australia strives to raise awareness about mental health issues and create a support group online for people suffering from mental illness.
Lifeline - https://www.lifeline.org.au/ - Or 13 11 14, Lifeline is a well known Australian Charity that offers Crisis Assistance and works for Suicide Prevention they operate their Hotline 24/7.
Checkpoint - https://checkpoint.org.au/global/ - A website that links to websites and resources available in each listed country for a variety of mental health issues.
Headspace - https://headspace.org.au/ - is an amazing organization for youth mental health focus on 12 years to adulthood, they provide support for daily activities and also reach out to help those suffering from substance addictions.
Follow me:
Instagram - tj.patterson_writer
Facebook - fb.me/Tjpattersonwriter
*Stay Safe*Stay Positive*Stay Focused on Your Dreams*Make It Happen*
Ok So I know that I kind of stink at this whole social media blogging thing, but I am trying.
Not to sound like a whiny brat but I work a full time job and am also trying to write my novel and not completely lose my mind whilst I am at it.
So today I am going to try and talk about balance, for the last 2 years my life has been in a period of upheaval... Issue 1 outside influences that I had absolutely no control over, Issue 2 my health that I also had no hold over at the time and, Issue 3 my own mental approach to everything happening.
Today I will outline what has been causing the Imbalances, and I will follow up soon with another blog post outlining my self care routines and products and the like to rectify some of these imbalances.
So starting at the beginning,
1. Outside Influences.
The company I had been working for went into liquidation. I had worked there for 5 & a half years and I honestly enjoyed my job. When this company went out of business I had no clue what to do.
I was upset at the situation I and my fellows had been left in but I was also sad that the company had gone under.
I was extremely lucking in that it was only 2 days until I found a casual job, I was in a few positions within this company for around 5 months when I was asked to interview for a permanent Position at another company by a wonderful woman, (who knows who she is if reading this!) and i ended up working there for 11 months.At this point I was contacted and asked to stop in by a manager from the initial company who then offered me a role in the company he is with, a company that is much closer to home and so I accepted.
I do not relish in the fact that I have essentially had 3 jobs in 2 years, I am a person who revels in stability when it comes to my work and my work spaces.
There were also major differences in travel times, Job 1 30-40 minutes travel each way, job 2 15-20 minutes each way, Job 3 1-2 hours each way depending on traffic, 5-10 minutes each way.
2. Physical Health & Well-being.
In the 4 years my health issues have also gotten worse and as such I started seeing my doctor more. But they were markedly worse in the last 2 years.
I have a hard time explaining to even my closest family and friends as to my issues, they often look to the weight I've gained and just assume that is the cause of the health issues, in reality it is a side effect of the condition. A side effect I find hard to control and am often upset by.
I have now been given a plan by the doctors to follow, and I follow it as closely as possible it even allows for slip ups that are bound to happen.I don't really step onto scales except in the doctors office at check ups and I try to go by my clothes in regards to week to week progress, it won't happen over night.
I now track my sleep and food along with daily steps, heart rate and exercise via a fit bit, which I never would have even considered buying over a year ago, I am now addicted to the data and understanding my body. I also have to manually chart my temperatures throughout the day to present to the doctor at check ups. The more that I can understand out my body and its reactions to certain foods and activities the better I can look after it and live my life comfortably.
I have learnt that self care is harder for me than taking a long bath on a Friday night to relax, it is a day by day choice by choice issue that I personally grapple with every day. But that is okay, completely and totally okay because this is what my body requires to be okay. For you it may be completely different. You might be that person completely able to relax on a Friday with a long soak in the tub, some candles and music and be ready for the next week at that is amazing do what works best for you, that is the point of self care after all.
3. Mental Health
Lastly I have to note Mental Health, yes I capitalized that! Why? Because it it just as important as your physical health!
I know that mental health issues have become less taboo to talk about over the last decade as people slowly but surely accept study results and look more into how to help. But there is still a long way to go let's not kid ourselves.
I have struggled with depression since I was a teenager and have tried some medications which did not work for me, the decision was made to see a therapist instead and that helped a lot more for me.
Again, everyone is different and what works for me may not work for you please ensure that you do what works best for you!I had regular session for 2 years sorting out my head space and creating mental exercises that would ground me and help me deal with the down days, essential rewiring my brain to take a more positive look at the world.
I no longer have such regular sessions but I do still check in and essentially maintain the work I did, especially if the situations I am in are stressful or emotional. I found that having that person to talk to in a non judgmental neutral setting was beyond helpful for me in processing the down moments.
Everyone is different and everyone processes their circumstances differently.
I will link some sites that you can go to for help if you feel like you need it, and if you do feel like you need it Please Take The Help. I cannot express it enough that the help is there please please take it.
I also started taking time to myself and focusing on doing things I liked or working towards a dream goal. I picked up my pen and dusted off my keyboard and starting writing again. Small notes, dabbles and ideas and then a thought hit me hard and I realized that I had to write it, I had to write this book because I had to read this book! I had passion back in my life, real passion for a project, a passion that I have been missing for years.For me getting these last 2 points wrangled was a major step to accepting the first, change happens. You can't stop it, but you can ebb and flow with it. You can be grateful for the bits you can control, and you can allow yourself to have time to process it.
I will follow this blog post up shortly with another outlining some of the steps I take and tools I utilize regarding my mental and physical health so keep an eye out for that too.
Helpful Links:
Sane Australia - https://www.sane.org/ - Sane Australia strives to raise awareness about mental health issues and create a support group online for people suffering from mental illness.
Lifeline - https://www.lifeline.org.au/ - Or 13 11 14, Lifeline is a well known Australian Charity that offers Crisis Assistance and works for Suicide Prevention they operate their Hotline 24/7.
Checkpoint - https://checkpoint.org.au/global/ - A website that links to websites and resources available in each listed country for a variety of mental health issues.
Headspace - https://headspace.org.au/ - is an amazing organization for youth mental health focus on 12 years to adulthood, they provide support for daily activities and also reach out to help those suffering from substance addictions.
Follow me:
Instagram - tj.patterson_writer
Facebook - fb.me/Tjpattersonwriter
*Stay Safe*Stay Positive*Stay Focused on Your Dreams*Make It Happen*
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