For the past 6 years, my life has been about trying to get better (recover my mobility) and crafting. The crafting has been very important for my sanity. It gave me something constructive to do in my lift chair besides stare at a television and drool. I am so grateful that so many of you have been here for my crafting endeavors and supported me in so many ways. Thank you.
My mobility has improved drastically since I lost some weight and had both hips replaced. I am far from agile or quick on my feet, but I can get around without assistance now. Because of this I am working with a vocational rehab counselor and a job coach to try to get back to working. This past week and the coming week I am doing a job assessment in the accounting department of a local non-profit for 20 hours per week to see if I can handle working again. I am being observed. This is only a temporary job to test me and if I stand up to the physical challenges and the stress well enough, then I will be going out on interviews for jobs.
So far, I am doing ok physically. At the end of 5 hour work days, my back is aching, but I think that I just need to get used to things and over time I will have less pain (fingers crossed). The other part of the issue is stress and anxiety. I have an anxiety disorder that I am taking medication to keep under control. I have only had mild episodes of anxiety while in the process of learning the multitude of data entry processes that are required for the job. In comparison, at my last job my anxiety levels were so high that I would have panic attacks or, if I was able to hold in the out right panic, then internalizing it would result in physical symptoms, exacerbating my IBS-d and migraines.
Ok, so why am I telling you all of this? Well, I have found that my knitting, crocheting, spinning, beading, and jewelry making have drastically decreased. Actually, I have practically stopped doing any of it. How do those of you who work find balance in your life between work, family, and crafting? I have a multitude of WIPs that need attention, but I am suddenly not interested in most of them. I have managed to spin at least 15 mins per day to keep up with the Tour de Fleece, but even just that 15 mins seems like I must force myself to do it.
Do any of you have advice for me?
Happy Creativity to you All!
Although crafting can be something to decrease anxiety, the WIPs and spinning can wait until you are wanting to do them. If you are able to control your anxiety levels without crafting, then it's okay to let your body and mind get used to working and just "being" at the end of the work day. Be kind to yourself. I'll bet you find that the crafting bug will come back and bite you when you have gotten used to the new things going on in your life. We all have a loss of mojo at one point or another.. just be kind to yourself. Oooodles of hugs! M.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for your kind and supportive words!
Delete*hugs*
Bev
Nmk is right, Bev. When I was working there would be entire weeks when I just didn't have it in me to even look at a WIP never mind cast on something new. And there were times when the stress levels were such that I could even take a lunch (!) and knit until it was time to start work again. It will balance out eventually but you're in a massive change of routine right now.
ReplyDeleteDon't stress about the crafting as it will only make it worse. Do what you need to do each day and if there's strength and time enough, do what you want to do. It's how I got through many days - in fact, it's how I get through many days now even though I'm retired (which is an improvement, I guess, over unemployed and poor). Hugs and blessings ♥
The reality of it is, well, I don't balance it. Balancing work and family is hard enough, I don't even THINK of adding crafting to the mix. That's the great thing about crafting. It's there no matter how long it takes to get back to it! When the four (yes, four...damn student loans) jobs I currently have get entirely too overwhelming (usually finals and midterm season - main job is teaching at a university) I will honestly not touch my knitting or crochet or sewing for weeks, and I completely disappear from my blog (something I'm trying to prevent by spending this summer working ahead for relaunch in September).
ReplyDeleteAnd you know what? That's okay. That's why crafting is such a great thing. The WIP's don't care if it takes you a few weeks to get around to working on them. The yarn doesn't have deadlines and due dates. The crochet hooks aren't going to get mad and irritated if you haven't had a chance to have dinner with them in weeks. It's there for when you want it and need it. Don't beat yourself up over not having time/energy/desire.
Take a break, allow yourself to adjust to the changes in your life. Particularly with anxiety issues (fellow fighter here). Don't turn crafting into something you have to worry about. I used to find myself doing that a lot, transferring my anxiety over other things onto crafting and it not only sapped my desire to work on anything, but also made my battles with anxiety worse. Instead, try to concentrate on caring for yourself, and making sure that in the midst of all the changes and recovery that you're not losing yourself to stress. It's an exciting shift, but admittedly stressful, so don't bring the stress home and transfer it to something you love! The WIP's will be there when you're feeling better and have more time/are more comfortable in your new schedule! Congrats on getting back to work, and you'll be in my thoughts hoping that that back pain goes away!