Since my weekend away I have been finding it a little hard to settle back into city life. Having the wide-open spaces, the moments of solitude, peace and calm was a real rejuvenator for me and although I know how much of a positive impact it has, I always forget how hard it is to come back from.
Initially I put it down to not having the contact with nature, the quiet, space or fresh air. It was not as simple as that though. As I observed my behaviour over the first week back the thing that stood out was that I was fine moving from site to site, I was fine delivering training or participating in meetings what was not fine was being still, in front of a screen, specifically at work.
Now, I am in a position that very often requires I sit at a desk, in an office, with other people and there must be a certain level of acceptance of this, for the time being. What I don’t need to accept is that this needs to be a dominating factor in my life. I can learn to manage the situation better, focus more on my time away from the desk and get some strategies in place to make it more comfortable when I am chained to my computer.
Firstly, being out of the office. Movement is really important to me so it may be no surprise that walking is my preferred mode of transport and I try to do it as much as possible, whether it is only 30mins or over 90mins, it is all beneficial to my mental and physical state. Taking a break is important, being outside is key, and switching off is vital. Leaving my headphones out, or even my phone behind really makes a difference in being present and getting some headspace.
Another way I feel grounded is by exploring and experiencing different places. Being somewhere new is refreshing, whether outdoors, a new bookshop, café, or different side of town, it gives me a different perspective and I find it incredibly calming. Going to events and listening to things that expand my knowledge or may challenge me in some way is also key to inspiring me to think bigger, to act, to see the positives and opportunities in where I am, physically and mentally, wherever that may be.
Working two jobs means Friday is my own and I can base myself where I choose. I am lucky enough to work from a friend’s house to keep their dog company, a perfect match as it means I have an amazing space to work in and she gets a walk and company (I am still convinced I am getting the better deal). Being able to control the lighting, the air quality, when to work or take breaks is fantastic. We sometimes head out and meet people in coffee shops or the park and so there is constant flux to suit my needs. This flexibility is key for me and how I operate, and I feel so much more productive working within this space.
All the above helps massively, because what I discovered was that it was not just the space, it was the newness. It was the awe of being somewhere I had never been before, of seeing things I had not seen or hearing things, ideas, people, I had not heard. That was the key! My office work, when I was sat at my desk, was routine, repetitive, predominantly the same queries, issues, obstacles and conversations and it was ultimately becoming a little joyless.
Having all these experiences outside of work was fantastic, however, none of this helped with the office situation, so it has now come down to changing my perception, my purpose and improving my time management.
When the noise gets too much I listen to podcasts – Fearne Cottons Happy Place has been an absolute joy, brilliant guests, wonderfully honest conversations and insightful questioning. For when I may need to tune in a little more on what I am doing I have been picking random playlists, this week reggae and chillout have been lifting my mood.
When it gets too much, I take a break, not to then sit scrolling through my phone but to either go for a walk or have a face to face conversation with someone.
Work is work, it is up to me how I control and respond to it, so this week I have been finding new ways of changing that up. The things I have found which are starting to help are;
- Refocusing on what my desired outcomes are
- Reordering my priorities and resetting my boundaries
- Breaking my day up – switching between mundane and interesting tasks
- Eating the frog – facing the hard things first
- Having email specific times – not being a slave to them
- Communicating when I am struggling and asking to make a change, even if temporary
- Changing my location – if I can, work from a different site or even desk in office
I will still get pissed off some days and feel frazzled and slightly hemmed in by being stuck at my desk, but in recognising what the issues are and making these small changes I know I can handle it until a bigger change takes place, or the next time I am out in wide open spaces again.
So, whatever you are doing, if you are feeling stuck, a little trapped, overwhelmed or bored, maybe it is time to change things up a bit.