22:18

Busy busy busy busy!

This week at work was one of my toughest. Filled with team absence and additional hurdles, it has been stressful and draining. I worked over time and filled in responsibilities with every second of my day. I planned for my week, had those plans shattered and had to rebuild from the bottom each and every day. While I can adapt quite well under pressure I admit that this was a challenging week. One morning I woke up to another absence call, absorbed the information and then had a quick melt down. I shed some stressful tears before pulling myself back together and getting ready for my day. I have never been so glad to see the weekend! 

22:08

Today I had the day off – splitting my working week into two shorter ‘weeks’ is my favourite holiday hack! I slept in later than usual, took my time to get ready then met a friend for an Italian lunch. We stayed and talked in the restaurant for a while as we hadn’t seen each other since September, and then went for a walk.

It is the little social things that have changed the most. I stood at the door of my friend’s flat with my face mask on and chatted briefly with her parents. Usually I would have stepped inside and stayed for a short while, but that is against Scottish coronavirus rules. Even being out in a restaurant there are certain rules we have to follow . I miss being able to sit and relax in a cafe without worrying about what I was exposing myself to. The freedom to travel to the neighbouring counties has been taken away, let alone travelling to other cities or countries. I recently renewed my passport which is ironic as no one can travel. I believe the majority of the world is doing what they can in order to stay safe and protect those around them. Hopefully everyone powers through this difficult period and we can all come out the other end and be reunited!

22:23

Had a manic week this week due to staff holidays, team absences, heavier workloads and tight deadlines. Yesterday I ate my lunch at 14:45 due to a mad rush to finish some work and meetings galore. Last week I left work on Friday half an hour later than normal because I had loose ends to tie up.

Upon coming back to work I had expected a more relaxed environment, and while it has been in some aspects, there are bits of my former work life stress creeping back in. Adapting to a different work environment has been relatively straightforward and it feels like I was never away for all those months! I am hoping that the coming weeks leading up to the festive period will be smoother and less pressured. This weekend couldn’t have come at a better time. I hope everyone working gets a well-deserved rest!

22:20

During this pandemic I have definitely been appreciating quality time with others more because it has become so rare. Current rules in the UK vary from region to region and even in different cities. In Edinburgh we are still not allowed to enter into another person’s household. We can meet outdoors or in public places but not in homes. With quality time being my preferred love language (both giving and receiving) it has been difficult during the pandemic to feel that same closeness with others. I started off in March with several chats and video calls, but as the months have passed by the novelty for these has dwindled.

On Tuesday I dropped off some gifts for my younger brother and my sister-in-law and got to see them very briefly. Though we did not speak for too long it was nice to see them in person and to catch up. Today I went for a dander in the rain with my friend and we ended up in a cafe. We chatted for a while as we had not seen each other properly in so long. It also felt somewhat normal to be laughing and joking in a cafe again.

As the pandemic continues and the number of cases rises everyday, it is easy to feel gloomy and uneasy about the situation. The dreary Scottish weather also hasn’t helped in lifting anyone’s spirits. As we all adapt to the new normal we need to remember to reach out to others too. A small message to say hello, a gift out of the blue, a catch up in person – all of these are things we can do to brighten someone’s day.

22:58

More changes are coming my way and I am freaking out internally but putting on a brave face externally.

What is happening??

22:25

Just checking in for a quick life update:

• I’ve been given more responsibilities at work so things are hectic now and again, but I am happy for a change in pace and for more challenging tasks.
• Swimming has become something I really enjoy and it helps me unwind. This week I went swimming after work on 4/5 days and my body is feeling great!
• Catch ups with friends (even if for only a short while) build back those happy feelings in my heart. Forever blessed to be surrounded by lovely, supportive people.

 

23:08

A brand new year has begun! Happy (belated) new year!

Now that a new year is upon us it is often the time where people make resolutions and changes in their life. I am not one of those people. While a new year is frequently considered as the perfect time to adopt a new lifestyle, I have never sought after change in this time period.

Change is not limited to time constraints. Embracing a new diet or work out is not restricted to the beginning of the year. Adopting a new way of life does not have to come about just because the previous year is over. Change can come about at any time of the year. You can wake up one day and want to be a whole different person. You can change yourself in an innumerable amount of ways at any given time. A resolution can arise from a change in thought, and it can be kept for weeks, months, years or not at all.

Change is what you make of it.

18:56

‘It’s just that sometimes anger should just stay anger and tears can change anger to something else.’

Amy Poehler – Yes Please

22:08

I am trying to remember the last time that I felt fully refreshed and 100% awake, and truthfully I cannot remember. Every morning I wake up for work slightly groggy and wishing I could turn over and go back to sleep.

As a human being we need to sleep to survive. Our body needs to rest and recuperate and our mind needs to ‘switch off’. Whilst I sleep for an appropriate number of hours each night, how is it that I always wake up tired? I have a semi-strict routine in the evenings to allow me to go to bed at a reasonable time. I get into bed early and try to unwind from the day’s activities. Despite this routine I find myself tossing and turning in the night struggling to truly ‘switch off’. My fitness band tracks my sleeping patterns and I tend to wake up multiple times in the night. I know that as we get older our quality of sleep deteriorates, whether that be because of lifestyle changes or health issues. I feel like my sleep structure has already shifted a little.

In my student life I could stay awake till 4am with no problems, and then sleep in till noon the next day. My body has become accustomed to a set routine for work: getting up early and sleeping early. Working life is tiring.

22:03

Some things from recent days:-

• Winter has totally dried out my skin and I have itchy patches of rash on my body. I am so frustrated by it!
• I  caught up with Gotham season 2 and started watching Daredevil.
• My whole work team got ill and we took turns having days off. We have all made a full recovery now.
• I am craving some good quality sushi (take me back to Japan please!)
• My nose is very sensitive to strong smells and I will cough and splutter when I encounter them.
• I started taking driving lessons! It is something I have always wanted to do but never had time to in my student days.
• Soup is not a viable option for my work lunches, it leaves me so hungry by the end of my shift…
• I can now play a musical instrument! It used to be one of my biggest regrets that I did not learn one when I was younger so I am happy that I have changed that.