Voice of the DBA

Category: Blog

  • Daily Coping 20 Jul 2020

    I’ve started to add a daily coping tip to the SQLServerCentral newsletter and to the Community Circle, which is helping me deal with the issues in the world. I’m adding my responses for each day here.

    Today’s tip is to go for a walk to clear your head when you feel overwhelmed.

    I’m lucky that I have space around my house to go walk without any COVID issues. That means that when I’m a bit stressed, I can go outside.

    I’m not good at that.

    I do try to take breaks and exercise, but often I go to the gym, practice yoga, or ride a bike. However, a walk is a good way to clear your head.

    Last week I had a dog get surgery, and while she can’t walk this week, next week will be the time I do a bit of walking before, during, and after work.

    Going outside, doing something easy and mindless often resets your brain, and might even inspire you to solve some problem that you are struggling with.

  • A Travel Milestone: Two Keystones

    I used to travel a lot. Last year I flew over 140,000 miles in the air, drive another 1000 or so on vacation, and visited numerous countries. It’s hectic and hard at times, but it is very enjoyable when my wife comes with me, which I plan on happening more and more.

    Not this year, but while I only have one plane flight this year, I’ve still gotten out and about a bit. In fact, I hit a travel milestone for myself recently. I was in two cities named Keystone inside of a week.

    Keystone, SD

    I’ve never been to Keystone, SD, but I’ve been close before. This is on the East side of Mount Rushmore, where I’ve been many times. We found a new campground there this year and drove up to Keystone one night for dinner. It was a great week where I was unwired and recharged with family.

    20200623_150149_HDR

    This was my daily view, watching my wife and daughter ride their horses.

    Keystone, CO

    Less than a week after we came back, I drove up to Keystone, CO. My wife and I own a condo near the ski resort there, and I went up to work for a few days while there was construction at my house. My wife joined me and we had a couple nice days over the weekend relaxing.

    This was my work environment.

    20200701_163854

    A Little Silly

    It’s a silly milestone, but when you like to travel, and you get to do it, you look for little things. This was interesting for me, unplanned, but a funny coincidence. I hadn’t known there was another Keystone within driving distance until late May. I hadn’t planned on going to our condo until a couple weeks before when we scheduled the construction work.

    It all worked out, and I was lucky to get two vacations in about two weeks in towns with the same name.

  • Daily Coping 17 Jul 2020

    I’ve started to add a daily coping tip to the SQLServerCentral newsletter and to the Community Circle, which is helping me deal with the issues in the world. I’m adding my responses for each day here.

    Today’s tip is to challenge negative thoughts, find an alternative interpretation.

    Recently I had a bad day. I felt I didn’t do something well and spent a lot of time complaining to myself in my head, second guessing my actions, and feeling that I wasn’t really good at that task.

    After a couple days of on and off negative thoughts, I finally started to snap out of it. I looked at things as learning opportunities. I need to grow and do better in the future. My past actions are sunk costs, they’re gone and can’t be changed. I can, however, look back and realize that I didn’t prepare well, hadn’t thought of a few things (which I have learned), and needed to make decisions quicker.

    In other words, I wasn’t as adept as I’d have liked, even though mentally I thought I was ready. A good lesson and accepting this helped me to feel better.

  • Daily Coping 16 Jul 2020

    I’ve started to add a daily coping tip to the SQLServerCentral newsletter and to the Community Circle, which is helping me deal with the issues in the world. I’m adding my responses for each day here.

    When things go wrong, be compassionate to yourself.

    For the most part things have gone well for me that last few months. However, there have been a few bumps in the road, which are minor in the scheme of things, but they don’t always feel that way in the moment.

    I was doing some furniture movement around the house recently and I hurt my back. It was slightly strained, and really needed a couple days of rest to heal. I hate laying in bed for too long, and I hate not getting things done.

    This item actually came from my wife, who reminded me to relax and take care of myself, accepting limits for a couple days.

    I did, and I feel better. It wasn’t easy, but I consumed some video, practiced some Duolingo on my phone, and read a lot. It was a good break, even if it was unwanted.