An Impromptu Holiday

Once again I have been pretty quiet here on the blog this but unlike before where I was struggling to balance life, work and blogging this time I decided to take an impromptu holiday.

Several things built up to this.


I had extra days with the boys and this meant trying to keep them entertained and the best way of doing this was by continuing our homeeducation topics. Within this I kept up with my responsibilities with the different jobs as financially they had to come first. Although I had decided to put blogging on pause whilst doing these things there were still moments where I was drawn back to my hobby of writing and still ended up posting the odd article.

Physically I was struggling. I was tired, sore and my MD had begun flaring up. On top of this I started having some sickness bug.

Mentally I started struggling too. I have felt on edge for a few weeks and all, I believe, because of the above issues. I was stressed, tired, overworked and found that my DPD had started flaring up. Paranoia had sunk in and I was becoming hypersensitive to situations which would make me quite tearful.

As part of my weekly therapy session my therapist asked if all of the above was affecting me collectively, something that a couple of bloggers picked up on too, and asked when I last took a holiday. I thought long and hard about it and realised that it is well over 3 years since I had a break for myself.

She then kindly pointed out that everybody has time off. Couples have date nights or weekends away to have that time together. People who work have weekends and although these are filled with family time the change is an important part. Yet, for me, I hadn’t taken any time at all. I was always dad, teacher, writer, quiz master, blogger and advertising rep; yet I was still taking on more work.

The problem here is that even when the boys Mum has her time away with her partner I seem to take on that extra time and don’t have any time put aside for myself; a day to recuperate, rest and recover. When asked, “When is your date night, the time to love yourself?” it really hit me that I don’t have one.

The boys Mum and her family had planned a long weekend away and according to the dates meant that I had a “free” 6 day period. This would be perfect if I didn’t have work! Then I thought about it and decided that I could just cancel work for those days. No blogging, writing, teaching, advertising and limited time on social media. I could keep the quiz night, as I find that more social than work, but the rest could stop.

I could have gone away and decided that I might but the very first day I slept. I slept with no alarm, no reason to get up and despite having a solid 10 hours sleep, something I haven’t had in years, I also slept in the afternoon; my body was clearly telling me that it wanted me to stop.  So I did.

I sat, watched films, cleaned the flat, binge watched a box set and read 2 books. I can’t even remember the last time I read a book!

I have always been proud of the fact that I managed to juggle everything. That I found time to do it all and to do so with my MD always felt like an accomplishment. I knew I had to rest too but that never truly happened as I was always doing something.

I found that the stress, juggling act, physical and mental strain was actually leading to me being less productive. I wasn’t falling outof love with blogging as I know you have to be a persistent blogger and the same can be said for my other jobs and roles. I love them all but loving myself is more important to really achieve more.

In that time I had fresh ideas for blog posts, for Home School activities, days out with the boys and organisation within my home. The sickness and strain that I was feeling disappeared and although I still feel slightly in the air mentally I feel ten times better now.

I realised that when you're in the midst of all the stresses and pressures of work it's hard to see things clearly or rationally. Taking a proper holiday break helps to give perspective on the roles within your life. Unwind from your everyday stresses and you'll return with confidence, ready to face your challenges and with it giving your body the chance to replenish and heal itself too.

I doubt that this will be a regular thing but it has made me realise I need more time to myself even if I can do this just twice a year.

Do you make sure you have time away from work and blogging? Time to yourself or time as a couple?