The piece I wrote got deleted, so here's a video instead! It's about having low energy, how it impacts me and what I've been doing. Plus, a cute cat and other stuff.
Love this and relate so much & also to your other posts, don’t use this site much but I do read when you post especially when it’s about writing & being burnt out etc 😅
My battery is also very low. I'm a teacher, currently entering into my summer break and typically find myself crashing for several days before I feel like myself again. This summer I'm taking a slightly different route and actually working part time. Normally I don't work at all, but this year I feel like I need something, some project to put myself into. It won't be school related of course, which I think is a good thing. Sitting too still for too long is not good for me. I fall into ruts of scrolling, sleeping too many hours, and not getting enough fresh air. It's not always easy finding the rest I need, but I do know that it changes all the time. Sometimes I just need quiet, while other times I need new scenery. I think it's important to spend time doing the things that bring you back to yourself, whatever that may be. I also really loved the video idea. I think you should do more 'cringe'. It's kinda inspired me to maybe try that route. I'm still learning substack and all the things it allows us to do.
I love seeing how other people are showing up here! Thank you for sharing!
Thank you so much for sharing, Leslie. You have such an intense and busy job. I'm not surprised you're at this point now. Not too long 'till your summer now and sounds like you've really thought carefully about how to best make it work for you. Exciting!
What comes through strongly here is how you're working on getting to know yourself and asking yourself what you need. Then trying things out. I think that's brilliant! And that's the sort of attitude I'm trying to embody as well. We won't always nail it every time but I'd much rather that than just being on a hamster wheel of what I 'should' be doing then crashing completely.
There are so many things to balance though aren't there and we all have different life commitments. I'm very fortunate that I do have quite a bit of space and freedom in my life at the moment.
Aw thanks for the video comment too. Maybe I will do more!
Yeah, I'm trying to be very open and play around on here still. I don't have any plan at all other than showing up each Sunday morning in whatever way that might be.
I identify with so much of this. I don't know what's happened over the last couple of weeks but I've felt unable to do much of anything beyond chores. At the point in your video where you started talking about feeling overwhelmed on Substack I was nodding and talking back to you and agreeing with everything you said! I've been here only a matter of weeks and was full of energy to begin but for some reason just feel that I can't keep up with all that I want to. I want to read and engage and comment and enjoy relationship and yet am feeling I need more time and energy than I possess to properly get involved. I feel I need vast amounts of my own space and time to ponder slowly and potter around and ‘be’ – but life doesn’t provide those easily. I've been doing a lot of scrolling too - as you say we don't find the answer but there's something that keeps us looking even in places we know it doesn't exist. (I actually find it really useful to set app timers on my phone. A bit less drastic than deleting. Although deleting could be really good too – I bet I wouldn’t miss things as much as I think I would.)
I’m going to try and get back to some daily short breathing practices and meditations this week – the rhythm of those helps me but in busy days they are the first thing I allow to slip.
And yes I got right to the end! The cats came to watch a bit too. Thank you for posting this honest video – it’s made me feel a little less alone.
Oh Lou! You saying it helped you feel less alone makes the cringe totally worth it. Thank you and thanks for watching all the way to the end!
That's very interesting that we've hit this at a similar point and feeling similar effects. And also reaching for similar helpful/ unhelpful coping mechanisms.
I've recently got one of those time blockers. Sometimes it helps and other times I am naughty and bypass it...!
Really good to hear you've got some tools in your chest that you can use this coming week. If you feel like it, let me know how you got on (Sometimes that accountability helps a little - does for me anyway!) I'll have a think about this myself, too. Gentleness and self compassion are essential I think.
I hope you have some restful moments for yourself this week and that you start to feeling your energy returning a little.
Thank you and you too. Perhaps we should check in on each other half way through the week! I find it fascinating that I know some of the things which help and yet choose not to do them. Almost like self sabotage. But yes that accountability does help so I hope for us both that we can put good things in place this week. I wish you more energy and cat cuddles.
Morning! So nice to hear/see you and perhaps the written version of this was never meant to be because this video feels like you are allowing us in to see a much deeper version of what you want to say.
I relate to SO MUCH of what you're talking about, it sounds like you're in a period of burnout and I wonder if you've ever considered that you might be neurodiverse?
I hope your upcoming busy few days doesn't leave you more depleted.
And cats, what joy they are. Constant reminders of taking guilt free rest and to put ourselves first. Also they excellent at saying no in their own special way 😂😅
Morning Susan! Thanks for your lovely reply. I really appreciate it and glad you liked the video version.
I have definitely considered this as there are certain experiences that neurodiverse people share that I strongly relate to. I haven't gone very deep with investigations but whenever I have, it hasn't suggested that I am so I've just left it. I'm always interested to get to know myself better though and what feels manageable and aligned for me vs not.
I've had such a beautiful time this last few days. I'm now back home and into my quiet corner so I'll take it gently now. I've already had a nap after a very early drive this morn! Victor came to say hello then went back out to do some prowling and sunbathing.
I love the fact you've had a nap today already! Brilliant. Do you have any techniques for dropping into a nap? I find that I want too but my mind often won't allow me
It doesn't *always* work for me but one of the most effective things is this podcast 'tracks to relax'. They have all different nap lengths and 'themes'.
Isn't it funny how the Universe sometimes seems to be saying "you thought you were tired/frustrated/angry/anxious, well let's add this...!" and it is often at those moments that some sort of breakthrough happens. I love your video. Thanks for leaning into the cringe!! Right now I am really feeling tired but wired. So I have incorporated some small changes into my routine which seem to be helping - on paper they look like I am having even more on my plate, but somehow having those fixed non-negotiables in my day act like anchors to pin everything else onto and so make me feel less at sea.
Love this and relate so much & also to your other posts, don’t use this site much but I do read when you post especially when it’s about writing & being burnt out etc 😅
Thanks for saying this, Joe! Really appreciate it.
I reckon these themes will be explored repeatedly! So I'm glad you find it useful.
My battery is also very low. I'm a teacher, currently entering into my summer break and typically find myself crashing for several days before I feel like myself again. This summer I'm taking a slightly different route and actually working part time. Normally I don't work at all, but this year I feel like I need something, some project to put myself into. It won't be school related of course, which I think is a good thing. Sitting too still for too long is not good for me. I fall into ruts of scrolling, sleeping too many hours, and not getting enough fresh air. It's not always easy finding the rest I need, but I do know that it changes all the time. Sometimes I just need quiet, while other times I need new scenery. I think it's important to spend time doing the things that bring you back to yourself, whatever that may be. I also really loved the video idea. I think you should do more 'cringe'. It's kinda inspired me to maybe try that route. I'm still learning substack and all the things it allows us to do.
I love seeing how other people are showing up here! Thank you for sharing!
Thank you so much for sharing, Leslie. You have such an intense and busy job. I'm not surprised you're at this point now. Not too long 'till your summer now and sounds like you've really thought carefully about how to best make it work for you. Exciting!
What comes through strongly here is how you're working on getting to know yourself and asking yourself what you need. Then trying things out. I think that's brilliant! And that's the sort of attitude I'm trying to embody as well. We won't always nail it every time but I'd much rather that than just being on a hamster wheel of what I 'should' be doing then crashing completely.
There are so many things to balance though aren't there and we all have different life commitments. I'm very fortunate that I do have quite a bit of space and freedom in my life at the moment.
Aw thanks for the video comment too. Maybe I will do more!
Yeah, I'm trying to be very open and play around on here still. I don't have any plan at all other than showing up each Sunday morning in whatever way that might be.
I identify with so much of this. I don't know what's happened over the last couple of weeks but I've felt unable to do much of anything beyond chores. At the point in your video where you started talking about feeling overwhelmed on Substack I was nodding and talking back to you and agreeing with everything you said! I've been here only a matter of weeks and was full of energy to begin but for some reason just feel that I can't keep up with all that I want to. I want to read and engage and comment and enjoy relationship and yet am feeling I need more time and energy than I possess to properly get involved. I feel I need vast amounts of my own space and time to ponder slowly and potter around and ‘be’ – but life doesn’t provide those easily. I've been doing a lot of scrolling too - as you say we don't find the answer but there's something that keeps us looking even in places we know it doesn't exist. (I actually find it really useful to set app timers on my phone. A bit less drastic than deleting. Although deleting could be really good too – I bet I wouldn’t miss things as much as I think I would.)
I’m going to try and get back to some daily short breathing practices and meditations this week – the rhythm of those helps me but in busy days they are the first thing I allow to slip.
And yes I got right to the end! The cats came to watch a bit too. Thank you for posting this honest video – it’s made me feel a little less alone.
Oh Lou! You saying it helped you feel less alone makes the cringe totally worth it. Thank you and thanks for watching all the way to the end!
That's very interesting that we've hit this at a similar point and feeling similar effects. And also reaching for similar helpful/ unhelpful coping mechanisms.
I've recently got one of those time blockers. Sometimes it helps and other times I am naughty and bypass it...!
Really good to hear you've got some tools in your chest that you can use this coming week. If you feel like it, let me know how you got on (Sometimes that accountability helps a little - does for me anyway!) I'll have a think about this myself, too. Gentleness and self compassion are essential I think.
I hope you have some restful moments for yourself this week and that you start to feeling your energy returning a little.
Thank you and you too. Perhaps we should check in on each other half way through the week! I find it fascinating that I know some of the things which help and yet choose not to do them. Almost like self sabotage. But yes that accountability does help so I hope for us both that we can put good things in place this week. I wish you more energy and cat cuddles.
Sounds good to me!
Morning! So nice to hear/see you and perhaps the written version of this was never meant to be because this video feels like you are allowing us in to see a much deeper version of what you want to say.
I relate to SO MUCH of what you're talking about, it sounds like you're in a period of burnout and I wonder if you've ever considered that you might be neurodiverse?
I hope your upcoming busy few days doesn't leave you more depleted.
And cats, what joy they are. Constant reminders of taking guilt free rest and to put ourselves first. Also they excellent at saying no in their own special way 😂😅
Morning Susan! Thanks for your lovely reply. I really appreciate it and glad you liked the video version.
I have definitely considered this as there are certain experiences that neurodiverse people share that I strongly relate to. I haven't gone very deep with investigations but whenever I have, it hasn't suggested that I am so I've just left it. I'm always interested to get to know myself better though and what feels manageable and aligned for me vs not.
I've had such a beautiful time this last few days. I'm now back home and into my quiet corner so I'll take it gently now. I've already had a nap after a very early drive this morn! Victor came to say hello then went back out to do some prowling and sunbathing.
Hope you're having a lovely Sunday x
I love the fact you've had a nap today already! Brilliant. Do you have any techniques for dropping into a nap? I find that I want too but my mind often won't allow me
It doesn't *always* work for me but one of the most effective things is this podcast 'tracks to relax'. They have all different nap lengths and 'themes'.
Its a little bit of relaxing talking, visualisations then some very gentle music and then it gently wakes you up. https://open.spotify.com/episode/6ttThu9QPhaiNPoQqkCpi6?si=VgBZ-9EGSP-gDsxFCCRtdw
Oh ta! That sounds great.
Isn't it funny how the Universe sometimes seems to be saying "you thought you were tired/frustrated/angry/anxious, well let's add this...!" and it is often at those moments that some sort of breakthrough happens. I love your video. Thanks for leaning into the cringe!! Right now I am really feeling tired but wired. So I have incorporated some small changes into my routine which seem to be helping - on paper they look like I am having even more on my plate, but somehow having those fixed non-negotiables in my day act like anchors to pin everything else onto and so make me feel less at sea.
It is! Sounds like you're really listening to your intuition and what you need, Nicola. I hope those small changes continue to support you