Two Years on from a totally different job

Its been a while since posting, and as I sit here today I’m in a really reflective mood so thought it would be a good first post for a while.

Two years ago today, I returned from a busy weekend away with friends to sit down and work out what on earth I needed to take into a new job, in a totally new environment and with a whole lot of things whirling round my head to the point where I almost felt ill. That was the preparation for my first working day since being diagnosed with depression and anxiety.

I didn’t think I was ready for it. I was waiting for another round of therapy sessions and barely up past 7.30 because I was still trying to balance my energy levels and manage every day activities without it wiping me out too much. But we both needed to be working. Luckily, a temporary job opened up in part of the team in which my husband worked. Its something I could manage easily in terms of job requirements and with the support of the husband, we worked out how I could manage going back to work while not being completely useless at home.

We’re now two years on. A temporary six month job has been extended repeatedly. I’ve learned a lot of very technical and specific things related to the job and actually manage a lot of things on a day to day basis at work. I’m still often going to bed at 8pm but thats because I’ve started at 7am, done jobs in the house after work, done things for me that I enjoy and I’m tired. All perfectly reasonable. I usually take my journal or planner and do things for a while before I actually sleep so its not like I’m actually sleeping at that time either.

I lucked out with a line manager who was fully supportive of my mental health and supported a way of working that helped me engage proactively with the therapy sessions and support groups whilst managing everything at work. Working from home since last March, was certainly not something anyone had planned, but it has certainly helped me with a work life balance and feel like I can manage work, socialising, Guiding and all the activities I enjoy as well as contributing more to the household.

Its not often we sit down and consider things like this, but actually making a point to do it is really important as it helps see the good we have. I didn’t think when I started the job I would be where I am now, but it is in a stronger and healthier place – even if I doubt it sometimes! As we open up here after lockdown and come out of the pandemic, it might be something that the rest of you might consider – what positives do you have to reflect on over the past year.