Voice of the DBA

Tag: life

  • Daily Coping 24 Sept 2021

    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 walk away from your desk for 5 minutes. Find a quiet place and just be.

    I struggle to take short breaks from my desk. I have no problem burning an hour at the gym, but taking 5 minutes mid morning or in the late afternoon is a struggle.

    As I wrote this, I was in Santa Fe with my wife, working in our horse trailer.

    20210917_093602

    I am taking some breaks to go film her competitions, but those are set events and it’s about a 5 minute walk, a 15-20 minute film, and then 5 minutes back. Good breaks, and I’m getting in some movement, but it’s not relaxing. I feel stressed to get back to work.

    However, I saw this tip and decided to try it. I got up, walked outside, and just looked around at the Santa Fe day. This is the view just outside the door.

    20210917_105837

    I decided to just come out a couple times today, stand here, enjoy the warm air, and just look around. No agenda, no purpose.

    It was a nice break. We’ll see if I can do this more when I get home.

  • Daily Coping 23 Sept 2021

    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 touch base with a friend and share something you appreciate about having them in your life.

    I don’t do this enough. I did earlier in the pandemic, but I’m starting to try and rebuild some of this habit.

    Today I reached out to a friend in Denver and texted back and forth for a few minutes to catch up and schedule lunch. I told them how much I appreciate the little time we get together and the change to share in each others’ lives.

  • Daily Coping 22 Sep 2021

    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 leave positive messages for yourself to see regularly.

    I haven’t ever really done this in a physical sense. I have tried to keep positive messages in mind, notice the good things in life, nature, and others, and in general try to keep my attitude positive. It doesn’t always work, but I have gotten better at realizing when I am being negative.

    I decided to do this digitally. I have a couple friends that will reach out at times and send a positive note. That’s always good and I thought I’d leave myself a note digitally. I made myself an appointment for a random date and time. A small, 5 min item.

    2021-09-17 09_46_38-Remember a positive thing that happened yesterday and smile - Appointment

    When this comes up, I’ll look at it, take a minute to remember, and then I’ll set another positive message for myself for a random 6-9 days in the future.

  • Daily Coping 21 Sep 2021

    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 a caring, calming phrase to use when you feel low.

    I have emotional swings, much like most people. I certainly feel low at times, and I’ve noticed them more during the pandemic.

    It might seem silly, and it’s a bit of a family joke, but the phrase from Stuart Smalley character of Al Franken often used is helpful.

    “I’m good enough, I’m smart enough, and doggone it, people like me.”

    It lightens my mood, makes me smile, and it helps me to take a step back from whatever is bothering me. My wife has used this on me a few times, and I’m trying to adopt it as a way to cope.