Tag: coping

I 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. All my coping tips are under this tag. 

Today’s tip is to avoid saying must or should today.

My wife reminds me that “should” is a cognitive trap for an individual. I try to avoid saying, or thinking that I should do things and rather look at what are real obligations or responsibilities and what are things I would like to do.

This past weekend was a long, holiday weekend, and I had plans to handle some tasks. I worked through some, partially in most cases, but I was able to complete a task. In any case, I didn’t put myself in the place to say I should get more done, or I must get something done.

Instead, I worked on the tasks in front of my, listening to my body, mood, and family, being satisfied with a good effort and the state of my progress.

I had wondered if I could get three Juniper bushes cut down, but in two days, I got two done and then enjoyed another day with my family. The state of things (until this weekend).

I 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. All my coping tips are under this tag. 

Today’s tip is to pause, breathe, and feel your feet firmly on the ground.

I often do this in yoga. It’s one reason I like classes. The instructor slows me down, has me sit and breathe, meditative-like, at times when I might not do that at home.

Today, I took a few minutes to stand outside the house, close my eyes, breathe, and enjoy the outdoor summer air.

I 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. All my coping tips are under this tag. 

Today’s tip is to be willing to ask for help when you need it.

This is hard for me. I tend to work independently, whether at my job or at home, but I am learning to be a little more vulnerable and open. A couple examples from this year where I learned this recently.

At work, I was a little overloaded. I talked with my boss and we moved a couple things to other people. Not big things, but they were recurring and a small bit of stress when I get busy. We also talked about shifting a few things in my job, working them in a new way. She had some suggestions that helped me rework how I get things done.

At my last 1:1, we noticed my stress and coping were more positive.

At home, I tend to just tackle work that needs to be done. However, I have started to be better about not doing everything myself. I asked a kid to help me change implements on the tractor. I also asked another one to help me add a hitch to my wife’s car. I could have used some tools or leverage to get things done, but I also could have thrown out my back. Asking for help was a better idea, and the kids learned something.

I 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. All my coping tips are under this tag. 

Today’s tip is to make some vacation plans for the future.

Some of us have started to do more things as the pandemic eases; some have not. Your ability to do things varies by country, employers, comfort level, and more. I’ve been doing a few things, and actually had a few vacations this year. Short, but still, I’ve had some.

I want more, especially as many things still aren’t normal. My wife and I started to look forward and plan some vacations. Some plans are more likely, and some are very speculative. We’d like to go to Machu Picchu in Peru, but the country and been opening and closing, and it feels too unstable to really plan something.

However, we have been looking at perhaps going to Alaska. It’s open, outdoors, and less risky than other places. It’s also a bucket list item for both of us, so we’re trying to make some semi-firm plans for the early fall.

We have other ideas as well, like going back to New Zealand. We know we can’t go. Yet, but we’re making some plans for when we can.