It's like I can't turn it off, the minister thing. I wake up several times a night thinking about work - things I need to do or the sermon for the next week or the one I preached the last week, or what have you....
I have learned how to get back to sleep when that happens but it still stinks waking up thinking about work. Some tricks:
- Sleepytime or Tension Tamer tea before bed.
- Great homeopathic med "Calms Forte" during really bad patches.
- Remembering that "worry is a misuse of imagination," and a waste of energy, besides.
- Julian of Norwich's prayer, "All will be well, all will be well, and all manner of things will be well." Repeat until it breaks up and then you're pretty much asleep.
Muir Beach
For me, the only thing that seems to shut off the overdrive is getting away for a couple days. However, like most clergy, my contract stipulates only one day off per week. I take that on Friday so whenever Saturday is free I can take two days off in a row. If my son is at his dad's house, I can get away. Cycle broken.
That set of circumstances won't happen again for two months.
My best friend tells me that some Episcopal dioceses are recommending that priests be given two days off in a row every week. It could happen, right? But until then, I need to find another way to shut off overdrive, because sometimes in this line of work you can't avoid those 60 hour weeks. Crises happen, and you still have to have a sermon on Sunday. I'm hoping this whole "self care" thing will help.
Day Two:
Slept at least 8 hours last night. Took 45 minute nap this afternoon.
Worked 9 hours altogether.
- Good breakfast and lunch.
- Ate too many cookies. Felt deprived. That triggers sweet cravings. More on that later.
- Too tired to work out but did watch episodes of "Community" on DVD with my son this afternoon and had laugh therapty.
- Potluck dinner at a congregant's house so who knows about food tonight.
Assessment: Not the greatest self-care day, a B maybe.
Appraisal: Tired
No comments:
Post a Comment