In this situation, do as I say not as I do…
Yesterday I read a little book called How to Not Always Be Working by Marlee Grace. And by little, I mean in physical size only because this book packed some great punches about containing work and keeping space for ourselves and our wellness. This is a book I will be purchasing to keep.
This was great timing for me because I have personally been struggling a lot lately with not being able to turn work off. Work can be an excellent escape for me. But working so much at my “real job” leaves me little time for Teach Me Self Care, and that’s a problem!
What do you define as “work”?
One of the main premises of the book is that in order to not always be working we first have to define what work is for us. Can’t know when you’re doing or not doing something if we don’t know what it is, when it starts, or when it stops!
I love that Marlee Grace gives the reader permission to define work in whatever way makes sense for you. For example, she notes that definitions of work might include what you get paid to do (or not), what is hard versus easy, or what is private versus public (Grace discusses her own relationship between work and social media content creation).
For example, my developing definition of work includes the tasks I do that I get paid for (or aspire to be paid for). But it also includes domestic responsibilities that I don’t particularly enjoy doing.
What about you? How do you define work?
Even better – hit reply and share your thoughts, so I can share back to the TMSC community some examples!
What have I been up to for work and not work?
A lot of work has been happening lately in my life! I have a new role as Director of a research unit (work I love), and I am developing a series of continuing education opportunities for professional psychologists. I had the privilege of running a half-day workshop for students in the Saskatoon and area pre-doctoral clinical psychology residency program. I’m also working on a book about self-care in higher education (a dream come true) and doing lots of reading! Self-care has been a challenge, but I am loving keeping my sleep routine, my adult colouring books, mindfulness meditation, and trying to enjoy cooking.
And promising to blog more!
A lot of work has been happening lately in my life! I have a new role as Director of a research unit (work I love), and I am developing a series of continuing education opportunities for professional psychologists. I had the privilege of running a half-day workshop for students in the Saskatoon and area pre-doctoral clinical psychology residency program. I’m also working on a book about self-care in higher education (a dream come true) and doing lots of reading! Self-care has been a challenge, but I am loving keeping my sleep routine, my adult colouring books, mindfulness meditation, and trying to enjoy cooking.
And promising to blog more!
In self-care solidarity,
P.S. if you’d like to buy your own copy of How to Not Always Be Working I encourage you to support someone else’s self-care by finding an independent bookstore near you. Or you can always order it from my local independent bookstore.