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New season, new goals, reset and new commitment to self care...

New season, new goals, reset and new commitment to self care...

What a week this has been 😞

Not sure where to start here, after being absent for a while, I checked in a month or so ago to report that everything was our version of steady. My period of not checking in was purely a lack of capacity after returning to full time employment while still in a caring role. Operating at above 100% capacity. Primarily supporting my Darling who lives with BPD, (Seeking support for my Darling is how I found the forums) , S1 with an intellectual disability, S3 with ASD and FIL.

Well, last week the status has changed again with the passing of my father-in-law,

It has occurred to me that for the past couple of years our lives have revolved around Dad,

And I am ok with that, he is totally worthy of that. He has been a significant support over many years to our family.

The point of this is that I now need to be intentional in how I fill that void, I need to stay glued for my family to function. Darling now more than ever needs my support to adjust to life without her Dad.

And my children who adored their grandad.

Thinking about some goals for self care and interested in other peoples strategies.

It has occurred to me that I perhaps have not been looking after myself as well as I should have despite convincing myself I am ok.

I have been added to a waiting list for a grief and loss course through carer gateway.
I received an email seeking expressions of interest the morning after Dad passed.

This will be a good start.

Things that I want to achieve included

- Better diet

- More consistent exercise (Cycling)

- Time out with Darling, return to our motorcycle adventures that ceased when Dad went into care.

- Complete an NDIS review for S1 to get supports for independent living so I can relinquish some micro managing to better qualified people.

- Some self paced study.

- Gardening and home maintenance. Have big plans for the garden that is in a state of disrepair.

- Generally being more chilled and present for my family.

78 replies

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In response to: New season, new goals, reset and new commitment to self care...

Re: New season, new goals, reset and new commitment to self care...

well done for the gardens @Determined 😎

I did some gardening this morning , have to remember not to overdo it

hello @Healandlove , @8ppleTree , @Ainjoule . @Dimity

In response to: New season, new goals, reset and new commitment to self care...

Re: New season, new goals, reset and new commitment to self care...

@Determined I hope this new job works out for you and you are successful.

I think looking at the positives in our situation is helpful. Like looking forward to having that time away on your bike.

I find I need to have time away from my husband to take a big breath and just look after myself. Things have been going OK and just now all of a sudden his mood has changed to annoyance. It's hard.

Best of luck in your job search. I hope you are getting some time to yourself today.

In response to: Re: New season, new goals, reset and new commitment to self care...

Re: New season, new goals, reset and new commitment to self care...

@Shaz51 gardening is so therapeutic. I love looking after my little African violet on my desk. You do need to not over do it though.

Hope you are doing well and Mr Shaz is having good days.🫂

In response to: Re: New season, new goals, reset and new commitment to self care...

Re: New season, new goals, reset and new commitment to self care...

Found out today I was unsuccessful in the job I interviewed for 😢

Not sure what that means for my current job. That is not sustainable long term. I will have a breakdown under the current arrangements unless I set and maintain clear boundaries.

In response to: Re: New season, new goals, reset and new commitment to self care...

Re: New season, new goals, reset and new commitment to self care...

Had a photo pop up in photo memories today from 7 years ago. Triggered a few unpleasant memories. Each year I think I should delete it. But in the end decide to keep it to remind me of how far we have come.

Photo is of my darling. Looking really unwell. The photo was taken on a family picnic while on a short release from a mental health ward.

I often wonder why I would take such a photo. But reality it was probably because her appearance at the time was normal.

I would liken it to the appearance of my Dad in the days before he passed from cancer. (Darlings issues were mental health related not cancer) .

Feeling 🥺:nauseated_face:😥🥹

In response to: Re: New season, new goals, reset and new commitment to self care...

Re: New season, new goals, reset and new commitment to self care...

This is relevant at the moment because my current job is not sustainable. It is affecting my health. De ja vu.

This happened before Darlings mental break down. I suffered a burnout and was unable to work. This while not caused,.contributed to Darlings breakdown.

Sooo much to consider.

I love my job, I like most of.the people I work with but management is abysmal. Nepotism rules supreme.

In response to: Re: New season, new goals, reset and new commitment to self care...

Re: New season, new goals, reset and new commitment to self care...

hey @Determined so sorry to hear that the photo triggered some unpleasant memories. sometimes in the 'present' we see things differently and when we look back at the past, we notice the changes. it's okay that we didn't notice earlier, sometimes its really hard to notice these things until times past - its very human of you. i can see that you really care about your Darling 💗

that's tough about your job, is it possible to take some leave? feeling overwhelmed and burntout can definitely be a lot, and i really hope you're able to take some breaks to look after yourself. please do reach out for support too!! do you have a self-care activity for tonight?

In response to: Re: New season, new goals, reset and new commitment to self care...

Re: New season, new goals, reset and new commitment to self care...

@rav3n
I have just come off 2 weeks leave from work.
Returned to a new structure. New structure is not working at all as promised.
My supervisor quit before the break (as a protest to organisational culture and lack of value).

Self care activity for this morning was riding my motorbike to work. My son who usually comes with me on the work commute for his school commute is out for the day. So I rode my bike in and headed in the wrong direction adding 15 mins to the commute. This afternoon I am planning to turn a 15 minute commute into an hour 😎

The plan with work not communicated with anyone other than EAP counsellor is to give it a 2 week trail and if it is not working quit. I have no sick leave, it has all been used supporting family.
And management is already looking for ways to prove I am surplus to needs, I don't want to take too much time out and help them in that cause.

In response to: Re: New season, new goals, reset and new commitment to self care...

Re: New season, new goals, reset and new commitment to self care...

@Determined ahh i see, the new changes to the structure can definitely take some time to adjust to, how's the trial going for you now? the new structure still not working?

that really sucks that the communication wasn't made clear to everyone! i'm so sorry you've had to deal with all this at your workplace, i can see why taking leave can be tough right now. have you been able to discuss your feelings about this with your EAP counsellor?

glad you've got your self-care, riding your motorbike sounds fun, enjoy that extra commute!! what kind of motorbike do you ride?

In response to: Re: New season, new goals, reset and new commitment to self care...

Re: New season, new goals, reset and new commitment to self care...

Hi @rav3n

Hating work at the moment, Feeling I am being made redundant in how things are operating.
I am in a space that I have not been in for more than 15 years, and that is at the top of a very slippery slope for health and wellbeing. (**Disclaimer, I am perfectly safe, more concerned about physical and cognitive health and ability to function in basic tasks).
Day 2 of back to work I left after 2 hours unwell. Self care motorcycle ride aborted.
Applied for another job tonight but not much going at the moment that does not require a 1 hour commute. I will see how this week goes before I go down the path of big commutes.

Already feeling nauseated with cramps thinking about going to work tomorrow.

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