Basically, I needed a break from writing last week because I’d allowed my battery to start looking like the one above, and the main reason for that was that I’d been prioritising writing and work over sleep.
Working at KPMG is going well and I’m loving writing, but the 4am starts to write before a full day’s work started to take a toll.
Throw in school holidays and over-committing to too many optional things at work made me feel overwhelmed, which made it hard to switch my brain off at night.
I had no problems falling asleep, but whenever I’d get up for a piss, my brain would start thinking about everything I had to do, making it hard to get back to sleep.
Then, because I was tired, I’d make poor decisions and produce work below what I’m capable of, which would stress me out and worsen my sleep.
A cycle that could have been avoided had I just kept prioritising sleep.
No one likes working for (or with) a tired idiot, and sending my blog out unfinished recently was a sign that I’d become just that.
But now that I’m back sleeping well, I have the energy to start writing again, but this time, I’ve got even more scar tissue reminding me of what happens when I don’t manage my time and energy well.
Scar tissue that prompted me to change my email banner as a reminder to myself that I only struggle when I let my battery get flat.
Exercising with mates
Apart from catching up on sleep and nudging a few things off my plate, exercising with mates is one way I like to recharge, and it was great to do the Ginninderra parkrun on Saturday with my mate Dom, and my Year 8 Geography teacher Shuter!
Well known in the Knox community for having the naughtiest class in the school’s 100-year history, Shuter was down for a work conference, and it was great to catch up despite him sprinting off and leaving Dom and I for dead!
Dom aka “The Dungeon Bard” has become a mentor and like a big brother to me, as he was the second person I turned to for help when I got depressed.
Somehow Dom is back running a sub 30min parkrun less than a year after having a hip replacement, and our run/talks always leave me full of energy and optimistic about the future. Long may they continue Dungeon Bard.
Also on the weekend was the Santa Speedo Shuffle around the lake, a yearly event that raises money for Cystic Fibrosis ACT.
Despite the great turnout, apparently it was the last one as the founder sadly passed away earlier this year after a long battle with CF.
But hopefully, the success of the event can re-energize the organisers and they keep it going, as it was a fun day for a great cause.
RIP Megan. Your friendship and encouragement during the early days of my writing will never be forgotten.
It’s so easy to just let yourself be consumed by writing! Taking a break is the hardest thing. But so worth it, as you said!
That 4am start is dedication! Kudos to that, such discipline. Great to be able to recognise when you're overdoing plus it helps when you've got a sleep tracker to keep you accountable (looks like an Oura ring?).
Dom is such a legend and really miss having him around, he was such a presence in the office and an amazing support in some of my hard times :)
I had my bloods done the other day and found out that my hypothyroidism is playing up making me tired and mentally foggy, add to that all the other things and it's no wonder I'm in such a state