Finally! My husband Andrew is on leave.
Ever since Covid started, he has been putting in long hours through one of the most uncertain periods of work. He’s in a role that has a lot of pressure but he takes it all in his stride managing a large team. He loves his work because it’s challenging and he’s always learning something from it, he tells me. He’s far more patient than I would ever be and his attention to detail but also his ability to see the big picture is sought after by his executives who come to him to ask him quite detailed questions about his specialist area of expertise. He’s quite proud of what he and his team has achieved in the last few years.
However, he hasn’t been able to get any leave through covid and the lockdowns due to changing work circumstances that pop up but thankfully, he’s now got two weeks that he can use to rest and recuperate.
Two weeks ago, I had my own leave for about the same period of time (slightly less) and I did what I wanted every day.
Now, I’m glad he has his turn.
Two weeks to do what he wants and when he wants to. I’m not going to put any pressure on him to do any work around the house ?. Currently, as I write this, he is off at the Golf Studio perfecting his swing in front of the large computer screens and later, he tells me that he will set up his new Play Station 5.
I’m so glad that he was able to get this little bit of time off because I was getting worried he was working too hard for too long. When people do this, they feel they don’t want to let their team down but most of all, I didn’t want him to fall ill.
These are stressful, anxious times for people and many workers I know have disengaged mentally from their work. Me included as I have my up and down days.
Everyone I speak to here in Melbourne are feeling the same way.
Questioning what they’re doing, why they’re doing it and if there’s something better. I think we’ve all reached the point where we are finally feeling vulnerable and accepting that there are things we simply cannot control or keep saying that “all is well”. That what we have been through these last two years, yes is behind us but it’s changed us mentally – and forever. It doesn’t help when we are also confronted with images of war, floods, corruption in our government, climate change so then the things we do at work don’t have the same level of importance any more.
While many put their head down to the grindstone and continue on doing the best that they can, I do hope that people take time to do something a little bit nurturing for themselves and their families.
Self-care is so important as is the opportunity to have time ahead of you that you can use for your own needs – not the needs of your spouse, family, parents or other obligations.
People need to have their own space to breathe again at times to return to….themselves.
So I’m happy that Andrew will have this time now ahead of him to just watch television, sleep, play golf, game and read his books while I work. It’s the least I can do.
I did the same some time ago and it refreshed me – now it’s his turn and he deserves it.
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