There are times when only a list will do.  After a few hectic months at work, I’m conscious that I’ve been losing sight of the things I need to do for me.  It’s not new, I throw myself into projects without reservation.  During one significant transformation programme I was leading, I exclaimed, “this has to stop, I’ve run out of loo rolls at home”.  For me, that was a defining moment.  Run out of food, grab a sandwich at the station, feel exhausted, go home and straight to bed.  Yes, this project was “Groundhog Day” in every sense of the word.  And Deliveroo wouldn’t have helped because it relies on knowing what you need … beginning to get the picture?

Working from home (as I do now) has its own challenges.  All too often, I skip breakfast, and I’m just finishing this off or thinking about that, then before I know it, I grab a sandwich for supper.  It’s probably healthier than the ones at the station, although it’s still a sandwich eaten far too quickly.  So, back to my list – promises or plans?  I had a piece about putting ourselves front and centre stage in mind earlier, while basking in the Sunday sunshine (under the parasol). Crikey, it was hot.  I realised that most of us don’t crave the stage or want to be the centre of attention, yet self-care sometimes means that we need to be a little selfish and grandstand our ideas.  And this is how my list progressed.

At the top of my list I’ve written, “I’m a human being, not a robot”.  I considered “fallible human” although, that seemed a bit over the top.  I’ve listed out some of the challenges I need to address this week.  Often there aren’t enough hours in a working day to achieve everything that’s buzzing around in my thoughts.  Today, I’ve made a note of this week’s critical “to dos” to get projects delivered on time.  And I’ve separated out the things which will move the overall agenda forward.  I’ve never been one to work in series, always in parallel, so for me it’s essential to keep an eye on the horizon as well as the here and now.  I’ve also jotted down upcoming birthday and banking needs alongside website updates.

I’ve promised myself that, this week I will endeavour to focus on my ability to achieve even more with short breaks for a cuppa, and time out to clear my head, “I’m not a robot, I have needs, too”.  I’m not a slave to my phone as I work, although I do try to be responsive to emails as they swoop into my vision.  Why hold up others progress if I can help?  But I seem to have turned it into a bit of a competition – note to self, “Stay focused and let others fight their own battles”.  And I do have a habit of writing long explanations of my ideas when there’s no opportunity to chat them through in the office kitchen or over lunch.  This week I’ve promised myself to write less and buy back time – for myself and for others.

It's going to be a long week and the temperatures are rising already this morning.  Isn’t it time to join me and begin a little self-care, even if it’s just this week’s list of promises to yourself?  You don’t need to share it with anyone and what better than beginning with, “Remember to drink water – lots of it”?  Here are some other ideas which might help you to find your balance this week.  Let’s start small and begin the journey together over breakfast.

·       Drink water, at least two litres each day

·       Make time for a cuppa and a little time away from the desk

·       Remember you’re not a robot – don’t try to be one

·       Be kind to yourself and courteous to others

·       Make a contract with yourself about how long you’ll work today

·       Be ambitious although try not to be a hero

·       Support colleagues and listen

·       Avoid distractions which don’t help you

·       Share solutions not problems

·       Separate what’s project critical from trivia

·       Make time for a healthy lunch – remember your five a day

·       Keep your promise to stop work when the time comes

If you’d like to discuss your list or how you could find more time for reflection, then Let’s talk