How’s your week been? Still on board the “new year, new me” bus? Or hanging on to the back pole like Michael Crawford in Some Mothers Do ‘Ave ‘Em? I’m not at that level of chaos (yet) but there is a slight danger of me tumbling out of the back due to taking on too much. Already. I know.
I’ve been maintaining my “prioritisation” vow and doing all the things I said I would but I think this has resulted in smug over-confidence because I keep saying “yes” to everything else too. So certain am I that I am in control of my time and energy, I’ve misguidedly seem to think I have plenty to spare. And, predictably, I’m getting a bit weary already.
Time for a quick reset before it gets out of hand. I don’t want to say “no” to everything but, equally, I don’t want to slide into a semi-exhausted, “just get to the end of the week” existence. Let’s not forget that even if you live to 100, that's only 5,200 weeks - that’s not many, isn’t it? In the normal run of things, the week shouldn’t be something to “get through” and opportunities for fun, learning or just helping someone out ought to be seized.
But how to balance one thing with the other: staying on course while maintaining a zest for life? I have absolutely no idea. But I think it starts with acknowledgement and self-awareness. I know I have stretched myself thin this week. Would I sacrifice anything that I’ve done (priorities or enjoyable extras) in order to feel a bit less tired. Not a chance. Maybe the key, then, is to reframe what I’m feeling as “happy but tired” - the knowledge that I made a choice and I got something good out of it restores a sense of control. And it’s clear what the impact of that choice is and what I need to do next.
So, whatever your big plan for January, if you’ve felt your resolve slipping already, don’t worry too much. I think it’s possible to re-energise quickly by characterising mis-steps as “fun diversions” and then get with the programme again. Broke your diet plan in week 1? Well, did you enjoy the cake/pie/4 glasses of wine? Good. Let’s move on.
Take a lesson from The Vengaboys, who frequently got off the Vengabus, had a little dance and then retook their seats and resumed their mission. Always heading onwards, enthusiasm never dwindling, towards the next intercity disco.
This time last year
By coincidence, I was worried about doing too much twelve months ago - but in a rather different way. My attempt to grab my professional life by the horns - and learn to do and be everything all at once - was causing me some trouble. Who knew, eh?
I was trying to heed the advice of Eleanor Tweddell in her book Why Losing Your Job Could be the Best Thing That Ever Happened to You (still the first book I recommend to anyone who leaves their job without a new one in the bag, no matter what the circumstances). To recap: Eleanor warns that trying to do too many things leads to feeling overwhelmed which leads to procrastination … which leads to us doing trivial tasks in order to make ourselves feel better by ticking something off the list. One minute you’re making plans for world domination, the next you’re doing the hoovering.
It certainly sounds like I was struggling to put this advice into practice. But like a lot of phases in the past year, I think it was just something I had to work through. I don’t doubt the period of madness was shortened by being aware of what was going on.
A year later, my advice for anyone in the same boat is that a short interlude of crazy is unavoidable. But keep listening to the advice of others because some of it will stick and get you out the other side faster.
Also, side note: ticking things off a list is always satisfying. If you want to, keep a list of trivial tasks - but separate it from other goals, especially career goals. So, if you need that little dopamine hit, go ahead: buy milk, clean the bath, fill in a form for the council. But don’t fool yourself that this is the same as the stuff you really care about.
And, one last thing. I noticed that this time last year I was fretting about my tax return. My top piece of advice for anyone considering an octopus-career: get a tax adviser. Seriously. The cost is worth it for the time saved and stress removed. I’ve been obliged to do self-assessment for more than a decade and this is the first January in ages that I haven’t been sick with fear that I’ve made a mistake and that HMRC are coming for me. Admittedly, every now and then, I have a residual moment of panic (“it’s nearly January 31st!”) but I hear that goes away in about 10 years or so …
Badge pinboard
Last weekend was the anniversary of the birth of David Bowie (and, more sadly, Monday the anniversary of his death). So what better way to celebrate the man than with a David Bowie cat badge. (Thank you, Rachel J!)
You and the Vengaboys make some very fine points
The badge 🤩