Well, we’re back into lockdown in the UK, and although I am very relieved that the decision has been made and steps are finally being taken to get the virus under control, I’m also a muddle of a hundred other emotions. And I know I’m not alone.
I’ll be honest, the word overwhelm felt a bit over-used before all this global pandemic malarkey kicked off, but now…..well….I very much get it! Trying to juggle half a dozen different roles throughout a day – mum, teacher, wife, employee, cook, washer woman, and being something to everyone is hard. I want to know my friends can message me to talk, to laugh, to moan; I want to find time for me, to take photos, to learn new Photoshop skills, to play my guitar, to write songs, read books…..arghhhhh,how is that possible in just one day…… equals overwhelm!
Last night I woke up in the middle of the night, with all this rushing around my head, this plus trying to think of presents for an upcoming birthday, remembering to write thank you letters, planning a cake……you get it…
So why on earth, amongst the first lockdown, did I decide that starting a business selling prints of my photos was a good idea!!! How was more work going to help any level of overwhelm improve? Well, the answer is, it doesn’t! And I am putting way too much pressure on myself to make it happen. Why? The answer is, I don’t know! The plan was to make a few quid selling photos and see where it went, not some great entrepreneurial journey!
So, this week, (whilst home-schooling and writing kick-ass haikus!!) I will sit down and write a list of the most important elements of my life, the things that are important to make time for, and focus on fitting them into my life. Not stressing about things that don’t really matter that much.
After all, I am extremely lucky I have as much time as I do – I’m not a medic on the front line, I’m not a teacher trying to teach both in the classroom and online at the same time, I don’t work in a supermarket trying to break up fights over toilet roll… And I shouldn’t waste precious time listening to the Sound of the Overwhelm (I hope you’re getting these tenuous references or I’m sounding like a complete idiot!).
I encourage you to do the same – listen to the songs you love, dance in the kitchen, read the books that feed your soul, wrap up warm and go for a walk, play games with your kids, watch movies, and do the hoovering when there’s a spare couple of minutes. And I am going to finish writing one song this year!
Stay safe x
Clare McEwen Photography 