I asked for help at work. It wasn’t easy, but it was the right thing to do

I had a phone call with my manager and an employee from the Safe to Work team at our organisation. I acknowledge that I am privileged in having access to a Safe to Work team. My original plan was to work two days this week and then work 3-4 days moving forward. We discussed personal …

What do I need to work safely with anxiety?

I was asked this question by both my manager and my psychologist after I burned out. Truth of the matter is, I have no clue. On one hand, I think it could be simply a certain number of days or hours worked each week. On the other, no matter how many "days" I work, my …

I burned out without realising it

I felt a pang of disappointment reading my last post - "My Kindness Project... I am on a mission". Clearly I didn't live up to my mission. That was my first reaction. But also, that is the reaction that I have conditioned into myself. These are the unhelpful thought patterns that have turned into habits …

My Kindness Project

I am on a mission. A mission to show kindness to myself, and consequently others. I have discussed this in a previous blog post, but now I want to put this commitment out to the world and cement it in a declaration. I devote this solitude and time indoors to creating and practising habits of …

The guilt of a rest day

I knew I would be hungover today. Yesterday was one of those rare occasions where I've binge drank in a long time (I've been limiting my alcohol consumption for medical reasons for the past 6 months). So I kept today free to take it easy and get some Sunday errands done. Instead, I didn't leave …

The new coal

Fuelling our emotions with thought Headspace It powers us and gives us energyWe think it's in abundanceCheaper and easier to mineThat we can just keep digging and we'll never stop It fuels our perfectionismWe believe it's our reason for successThe constant overthinkingThe drive that comes from "you're never good enough" But we are just digging …

“What does it mean to be kind to yourself?”

My psychologist asked me. Logically I know what it means. But I find it really hard to believe and practise. Two sessions ago, she asked me in response to a story, "What would you say if it was your best friend?" As I started to reply, tears began welling in my eyes. An instinctual response …

Slow down

I wake with a tight chest. I lay down on the couch to relax myself. Unaware of its continual tightening. I scroll through Instagram mindlessly, not noticing any thoughts. I can't get up. My mind starts to race so fast I can't recognise what's going on. I'm thinking about my schedule and how I won't …