Work was a lot today. I just took a walk outside to enjoy our warm weather and sunny skies. I'm grateful that I live and work in a neighborhood with a lot of sidewalks. Here's what else was good in my week:
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I just finished doing a small round of stretches in my cubicle because I have been glued to my chair all day working on a research project. I forgot how much that can put a crick in your back and shoulders. Here's what has my attention at the moment. WORK
PERSONAL
When I was an undergraduate, I double majored in Media Studies and Politics. Current events are a strong interest of mine but, at some point, I just have to stop reading. About a week into Russia's war on Ukraine, I realized that I simply could no longer read stories focusing on how children are impacted. Tears would immediately well in my eyes and I would become frozen with stress. The story that broke me was an opinion piece in the Washington Post called "What Mothers Know about War" [gift link]. The lead photo should have told me to stop. But it was the final line - "The fact that they have traveled so far, and their children are so heavy, and their arms are so tired." - that has lingered with me for weeks. As the mother of a toddler, it's all to easy for me to imagine just how tired those mothers' arms are. There is the ache of physical exhaustion, but the mental toll of war is immeasurable. I took a break from the news for a few days and, now, when I see a few words that trigger a heightened emotional response, I stop reading. I learned that, as much as I want to be informed, I do not want it to come at the expense of my mental health. We've made information readily accessible, but we have not been teaching how to set boundaries with what is available. Doomscrolling, or the compulsion to scour the internet for negative news, is a legitimate problem. When it is combined with revenge bedtime procrastination the negative emotional impact is compounded by a lack of sleep. What results is never ending stress and emotional fatigue related to information. This can have negative repercussions for behavior, education, and work. Too often we don't set limits. From a personal standpoint, that can lead to emotional spirals and endless hours of scrolling. From an educational or work standpoint, it means we don't learn when there is enough to act on. In either case, it can lead to the wonder if the information we have is sufficient. Is there more out there? Is there something important I am missing? This can result in information paralysis, where we become too overwhelmed to actually do something with the information we do have. There is simply no way we can ever consume all the information on a given subject or idea. There is just too much. Information is a part of my job as a librarian, but I am by no means an expert on the socio-cognitive effects of the constant bombardment of negative information. What we need to do is teach ourselves how to identify boundaries. I think that begins with asking a few questions:
It may be worth checking in with ourselves to determine how we are emotionally faring. If the information is becoming a burden, it may be time to step away for a break. I would love to hear your thoughts on setting boundaries with information. Feel free to leave a comment below. I took two days off of work this week. I left my kiddo in daycare. That amounted to 16 glorious daytime hours where I could get sh*t done. About three times a year, I try to consciously give myself some "life management" days out of the office. On these days, I tackle tasks that are more easily done on a weekday without interruption. Doing this has not only been beneficial to my tasks lists, but also my mental health. I find I worry less and experience less anxiety. Plus, I'm usually able to slip in a few relaxing hours for myself. This time, I got a haircut, cleaned our condo, did a couple loads of laundry, scanned a bunch of documents, filed more documents, rearranged our foyer closet, did some financial stuff, and organized all the things I need for my taxes. All the while, I got to empty out my backlog of podcasts and start a great new one (highly recommend The Trojan Horse Affair). Do you take life management days? If so, what do you cross off your to-do list?
I am on the second day of my planned two days off from work... while my kiddo is in daycare. I have been so productive that I think I should pat myself on the back. I love my kid, but it's a lot easier to get things done when I'm by myself. Here's what else has been good this week:
Today, I taught what may be my last library instruction class of the semester. If this is my last class, it ended on a high note. There were only 6 students but they were all engaged and asked good questions. Here's what else has my attention at the moment: WORK
PERSONAL
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