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Spidey’s Serene Sunday #421 – R & R

02 Apr 2023 23 Comments

by Ritu in Spidey's Serene Sundays Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, rest, Spiderman, Spidey, Spidey's Serene Sunday

“If you get tired, learn to rest, not quit.”
Irish Proverb

Perfect, Spidey!

Today I am heading off with Lil Princess to Birmingham to spend a couple of nights with Pops and Mum.

The school Easter break is upon us, so we have two weeks off.

However, it is never a pure two weeks switch-off.

On Wednesday, I have a Society Of Authors meet then Easter weekend comes in. I need to pop into school one day, and Lil Princess has a sleepover at a friend’s one day, too

Coupled with the fact that she has exams, as soon as she goes back, and that Lil Man’s A-levels are a mere few weeks away, I think I will be trying really hard not to nag but encourage the revision to take place.

Hubby Dearest has a couple of days off, too, the second week, so we might try and do a quick getaway, but when we are all at home, it is rarely a rest for me, so, let’s see!

So the next couple of days, after the three-hour drive, I look forward to getting some rest, at least!

So, Peeps, enjoy your Sunday!😊

Spidey’s Serene Sunday – Part 369 – Rest

03 Apr 2022 54 Comments

by Ritu in Spidey's Serene Sundays, Thoughts Opinions & Memories Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, rest, tired

“Rest when you’re weary. Refresh and renew yourself, your body, your mind, your spirit. Then get back to work.”
Ralph Marston

Thanks, Spidey, you know what im feeling like, right now!

I am absolutely shattered.

It’s been a term that felt six years long!

What with the threat of Ofsted, numerous visitors to school and succumbing to Covid, I feel like the energy has been drained from me.

Running on empty is not a good way to be.

So, thankfully, I have two weeks off, and I intend to fully recharge.

Time to sleep.

Time to read.

Time to rest.

Time to write.

Time for my family.

Time for me.

So, how do you recharge your internal batteries? 💜

Wishing you a wonderfully peaceful Sunday, Peeps!

Spidey’s Serene Sunday – Part 364 – Work and Play

27 Feb 2022 47 Comments

by Ritu in Spidey's Serene Sundays, Thoughts Opinions & Memories Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, rest, Spiderman, Spidey, Spidey's Serene Sunday, Work Life Balance

“There is virtue in work and there is virtue in rest. Use both and overlook neither.”
Alan Cohen

You’ve totally centred on my theme of R and R, this week, Spidey, so thank you!

As you will know, from the last couple of posts, I have been working pretty hard, but I have also had to rest, as well.

We’ve had a lot going on at school and there appears to be rather a huge amount happening over the next five weeks of term. So much squashed into this time. We have visits from various individuals, as well as the hovering threat of Ofsted, who are due to pay a visit at any time, too! Coupled with lesson observations and staff having days off, it’s a juggle.

No time to be ill, as most teachers will tell you.

But then, I think back to something several people say. You will always replaceable at work, but never replaceable to your family.

On Friday, I went into work, with an inkling that the day wasn’t going to be good for me. Sitting in my classroom, I was getting ready for the day, and my colleague could see, immediately that I wasn’t right.

So, instead of battling through, because that is what I usually do, I just got things set up, and spoke to my head, who agreed I needed to go home.

I do feel lucky to have a head who is fully family orientated, and understands work/life balance, even though I find myself messaging her to switch off, regularly, too. She knows that if someone is not well, they won’t be able to give the best of themselves to the class and school, or to their families.

I spent the best part of the day in bed on Friday and carried it forward on Saturday, too. No writing, those days, because I was unable to, but, finally, I recognise when I have to switch off.

I’m still achy and a bit tired, but at least I’ve given my body time to recuperate and will continue that, today, too.

So, are you good at recognising when you need to have a break?

Wishing you a wonderfully peaceful Sunday, Peeps!

#SoCS – Feb. 26 2022 – Rest

26 Feb 2022 47 Comments

by Ritu in #SoCS Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Linda G Hill, rest, Socs

Linda’s SoCS prompt:

Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “rest.” Use it any way you like. Enjoy!

An apt word for the week, Linda, I’ll have you know.

If you saw my 1LinerWeds post, you’d know that it has felt like the week did not want to end, for me.

Well, I guess things always happen for a reason, and I got to Frida, and my body told me that REST was what I needed.

After a week that had felt like it was approximately 145 days long, at the end of Thursday, I succumbed to a bad tummy bug, kindly gifted to me by my daughter who has been suffering since Wednesday.

I arrived at school, thinking I felt a little dodgy, but that I could soldier on.

That wasn’t the best plan. Lil Princess was home for day three of her confinement. Lil Man and I headed off, and I dropped him at his grandparents, and made my way to school, just arriving in time to rush to the ladies… (Sorry!)

After a short while there, my colleague arrived, and she could see from my pale face that I wasn’t right. But, ever the teacher, I couldn’t abandon my class or team, could I?

I’ve come to realise that a broken me, carrying on is actually worse than a me who has to catch up on a few things when she’s better. Plus, I don’t want to be the someone passing bugs on to anyone else.

So, I spoke to my head, organised the classroom, texted my team with the updates, and amended plans for the day, and headed home for a rest.

Still not right, but I definitely needed that time away from the class!

The Friday Reminder and Prompt for #SoCS Feb. 26, 2022

Spidey’s Serene Sunday – Part 341 – The Power of Rest

19 Sep 2021 47 Comments

by Ritu in Spidey's Serene Sundays, Thoughts Opinions & Memories Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, rest, School, Spiderman, Spidey, Spidey's Serene Sunday, Tiredness

“When you get tired, learn to rest, not quit.”
Banksy

Think I needed this reminder, this weekend, Spidey, thank you!

I have fast learned this over the last few years, you know, putting my physical health ahead of everything else.

I just recently read a post I had written several years ago, about how, as a teacher, I, along with many of my colleagues, find it hard to admit being unwell, slogging away, for fear of getting behind, evenif we desperately need a day in bed, to recover from an ailment.

But now, I am of the firm belief that self care comes first.

Now, I’m not talking about taking random days off to get my nails done, but knowing when I really need to stop, recharge my batteries, before continuing on the constant treadmill that is life.

School isn’t going to stop. And I can run myself ragged, being there every day, in sickness and in health (yup, it’s like being married to my job!) but, if something was to happen to me, school won’t suddenly cease to operate. they will just carry on with a repllacement Ritu in town, because they have to. (Well, it won’t be a new Ritu, as such, there’s only one of me, but you know what I mean!)

So, if I am to give the best to my job, as well as to my family, my writing, and my own interests, I have to know when to stop, or slow down, and rest.

THis past eighteen months, the whole pandemic, on top of moving house has meant that I have barely enough enercy for the basic daily life tasks, and school, meaning much less time for me to write. But I realise that I could burn the candles at both ends, and end up with words that are filled with no passion, and myself suffering from burnout.

I am not willing to do that. Whichever words flow from my fingers, need to be words that mean something, so, until I feel on an even keel, they are there, in my mind, and ideas jotted down as they come.

And with work, I have realised that I have to draw a line somewhere, too, and not bring my stresses home with me, if I can help it.

This, on top of feeling a bit unwell this weekend. Those lovely little mites in my class are filled with bugs and germs, and because we have all had less exposure to a lot the last few months, our immune systems aren’t as hardy as the were before. I have a really sore throat, and am tired, obviously.

So, I made sure I did my grocery shopping on Friday evening, so Saturday meant a little lie in. The laundry was done, the house cleaned, leaving the evening, and today free for me to rest up, ready for whatever the next week brings.

Here’s hoping I manage to listen to my own advice… you know me!

So, what about you? Can you recognise when you need to rest, not give up?