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 appreciate nature around you, wherever you are.

I am lucky that I live in a rural area, with animals, so nature is always around. I try to get outside and regularly enjoy and appreciate how amazing nature can be. I’ll stop and watch the horses, or even pause during a drive to see the deer run by.

Recently I went on a hike with family and dogs, and while we went through an open space near neighborhoods, I stopped to look and enjoy the trees, the landscape, more of nature than just animals. Apparently my dog was interested in the trees as well.

Or maybe what was behind them.

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 take an extra break or two today during work.

I had to do this last week a few times. After the snow in Colorado, I went out a few days to help my wife clear things up and ensure animals were cared for. In doing so, I decided to manhandle the tractor front bucket to get it connected. Doing so, I ended up tweaking my back.

As a result, I decided to give myself a few breaks during the next couple days, not pushing too hard, but taking some breaks to relax and rest a bit during the day. I didn’t want to completely stop life, but I recognized that I needed to go a bit slower.

I am usually pretty good about taking breaks, but not always. I’m trying to be more consistent, especially as my day often starts early to talk with UK colleagues. I need to remember that if I’m working until 5 or 6, I need to have breaks in the middle.

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 listen to a piece of music without doing anything else.

I’m going to predict something here, since I’ll have taken a plane flight last night (when this publishes). The first one in over a year.

I tend to like to listen to music in airports. I’ll put on a playlist and watch people walk around. Or I’ll listen when I get on the plane and look out the window, just observing the world.

I’m with my wife this time, but there will be some times as we takeoff, before a beverage, when I’ll put on some headphones and just listen. Since I’m writing this a couple days before, I’m going to put on my “Fun for Dad” playlist, with songs my kids have sent me, and just enjoy the takeoff and view of the Colorado countryside.

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 appreciate your hands and all the things they enable.

Lately, I’ve appreciated my back more, since I threw it out trying to change implements on the tractor. However, today, I need to appreciate my hands.

First, I type with them. A lot. In some sense, my hands are my living in this business. Especially given how poorly voice recognition works for me.

Second, I play guitar. Not that well, but I’ve done a lot more in the last year, and I find it relaxing. Days when my hands are tired or sore, I notice it’s harder, and I appreciate that I can still move them. Hopefully for years.

Next, I work with wood on the ranch, often building or repairing things, and my hands are a big part of that.

There are other things, but I certainly appreciate all the things I can do with my hands.