Stressed out – running on 21 autopilots?

Wish we could turn back time
To the good old days
When our momma sang us to sleep
But now we’re stressed out
Wish we could turn back time
To the good old days
When our momma sang us to sleep
But now we’re stressed out
We’re stressed out
There’s no doubt that stress is real and it kills people. I’ve suffered big time from in the past, and, thankfully, since leaving the cesspit of education, there’s been little of it.
Being a freelance web designer and copywriter means I work from home. I don’t have to bite my tongue, keep quiet in meetings and watch what I say to colleagues. I don’t have those “Have you got a minute?” conversations, management speak for a bollocking.

Covid 19 in 2020 has been good for me too.

I’m already attuned to working solo from home, having left shitty workplaces for good in 2015. It took some adjusting to. But now, if someone said, “Stuart off you go to work” for £2000 a month, I’d be horror-stricken.
Recently, however, stress has been building up. Slowly and steadily. Not to the point of 2013 where I was a car crash of a man. Just general irritation.
Why?

First world problem, I know.

Too much work.

You see, I rarely say no to web design work or social media marketing tasks or writing. I’ve filled a page on “Notability” with jobs to be done. Big screened iPad Pro too in smallish handwriting. I’ve staggered it out of course, but there is often an expectation from some clients that their new website will be ready tomorrow.

Not all – some are incredibly patient and understanding.

Some less so.

Stressed out

I can honestly say I love what I do as a freelance web designer, I love what I earn and the great feedback I get.

But.

Sometimes it feels relentless.

Today, then, my wife sensing a man on the edge asked me to run with her.

Now I’m not in bad physical shape and am reasonably fit, but running fills me with as much anticipation as an all day drinking session in Wetherspoons, surrounded by gammon.

I told her I wouldn’t run though and she set off.

Change of heart

As I sat there, however, looking at another WordPress dashboard, I rang her and said “come back, I’ll run with you.”

It was only 3km at a gentle pace and she did another 7km (legend she is) and I didn’t enjoy any aspect of it – apart from the warm sun and The National on my AirPod Pros.

But when I got back home, instead of glumly mouthing “woe is me” I felt great.

Had a shower, lunch and went back to the website workload not with a sigh, but with some anticipation.

Moral?

If you’re feeling a bit shit, go for a run. You won’t enjoy it. Well I don’t. But I do like how I feel now.

Here’s the video if you’re feeling stressed out:

 

 

 

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