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 find three good things to look forward to this year.

I’m going to reach here, and not pick things I am sure will happen. Instead, I’ll be aspirational and choose some things I am hopefully will happen.

First, I want to get back to the East Coast and see my Mom and brother. I have planned 3 trips out there, with my brother planning one out here, all of which were cancelled in 2020. I’m confident I’ll find out how to do this in 2021.

Second, I think my daughter will get to compete in volleyball next fall, and I will get to take some trips to watch her play. I’m more confident in the former than the latter, but I’m looking forward to doing both.

Third, I’m looking forward to visiting some parks and wilderness this summer. While I would like to travel somewhere, we are already making plans with friends for some trips in our camper with horses. We had hoped to get to Utah last year, or somewhere else, but didn’t go anywhere other than Mt Rushmore National Park. I am assuming my travel schedule is paused through summer, so I’ll have more time for trips.

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 learn something new and share it with others.

I do try to share things, and years ago I added tips, tricks, etc. to my blog. I’ve gotten out of the habit, but I changed that recently. I took the time to share something I learned.

The rear hatch on my X5 stopped latching. In fact, I was driving back from the store and saw the interior light on in the trunk. When I got home, I couldn’t get it to close. I ended up taking some time to find the issue and repair it, but then I took a few pictures and added a blog entry.

Hopefully it will help someone else.

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 5 minutes to sit still and just breathe.

Five minutes. It’s quick. Not a big impact in my day. Yet, I find stopping everything for 5 minutes and relaxing to be very, very hard.

It’s silly, especially as this is often a part of the beginning and/or end of yoga classes in a group. However, if I’m doing yoga by myself, or even with a video, I struggle. I seem to always stop and look forward, look at the next thing I need to do.

However, I tried this. I set a timer, and I sat on the front porch, just enjoying a sunny day, doing nothing. No distractions, no computer, no phone.

It was very nice and relaxing.

It was also very hard. My mind kept wandering and I kept thinking of something I could do in this 5 minutes.

I’m not sure I could do this every day, but I am going to try and make it a point to stop and no tackle some different chore or task away from work, but just sit for a few minutes a couple times a week.

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 look for the good in others and notice their strengths.

This can be challenging when you disagree with someone, but it is helpful to stop and think about others, even when you agree with them. The world has been polarized in many ways during the pandemic, so it is helpful to stop and change your view.

I have been trying to do this with one of the kids I coach. Often I might have an impression of the kids’ effort level, desire, even how well they listen. At the same time, I have empathy that this moment isn’t always representative of them.

For one kid, they haven’t always seemed to be focused, and haven’t had much effort after the holidays. I remind myself to stop and appreciate that this person still shows up, they do have some strengths, and I need to praise and appreciate those. I can try to get them to work on others, but pausing to appreciate the good helps me stay balanced in how I view them.