Optimistic October: Day 9 - Avoid the Blame Game

I successfully managed this one, but then there wasn't really anything to blame anyone for. However, as this is Optimistic October, I shall do my best to mention something I'm trying to do more consistently that definitely helps towards my own mental health improvement goals. Also, hopefully you won't detect any virtue-signalling. Excellent.

One thing that pops up on twitter now and then is the (generally quite good) advice that one should apologise less in emails. You know, the one that suggests instead of typing "sorry for the delay," you should replace it with something like "thanks for your patience". I'm getting better at that, and in genuinely removes a little bit of that self-flagellation which it is so easy to surreptitiously in all areas of our lives.

Well, the same idea works in the opposite direction. If someone takes a while getting back to you, then absolutely nothing is gained by getting grumpy over it. Suck it up. Provide some suggestions. Set some deadlines for actionable, well-defined targets. Be clear, concise, informative and decisive.

If something goes wrong, apportioning blame very rarely helps matters. If others are wasting time blamestorming, let them get on with it while you set about actually doing something instead. Stick up for yourself more than you tend to*, and stick up for others even more than that, especially if they're in a less influential position than you are.

So ends today's sermon.

* Even, nay, especially against your own inner monologue. If you're anything like me, they're the worst.

Optimistic October: Day 8 - Doing Something Constructive

Today's challenge is something I try to do whenever I see a tricky situation brewing, but I'm not sure if I can honestly talk about much I've done towards this today specifically.

I have a challenge to offer, though. A challenge for me, and also for you, that I think fits today's Optimistic October entry.

The challenge goes something like this:

News these days is generally very negative. Bad news sells; good news seems to do less well. This doesn't do any favours for our mental health, so can we make some steps towards making that better? I think we can. Here's a challenge that I'd like you all to take part in, and I'd like you to help me to keep. Call me out when I get it wrong; pat me on the back when I get it right. Here goes:

When sharing anything at all on social media (or anywhere else) you are choosing to propagate that story and all of the values and emotions that come along for the ride. Every time you share something, follow this:

Is it good news? Is it positive news? Is it happy? Is it true?

Yes! - Keep it up. Share with wild abandon.
No - Does it need to be shared? Really?

Yes! - Sandwich it between something good, positive and uplifting. Don't share until you've found something heartwarming, and then make sure you share something else with an uplifting centre to it soon afterwards.
No - Then don't share it.

Who's with me? If you are, maybe you can pass this on to others and set them the challenge too.

Just for clarity, this challenge starts now, and it ends... Never.

Optimistic October: Day 7 - Disavoidance

Today's Optimistic October challenge is sponsored by My First Day Off In Months and The Obligatory Encroaching Headcold. Nevertheless I powered through the aching neck and sinuses and did some stuff.

I've been coveting folding bikes for a while and, having received an unexpected sum of monies from an undisclosed benefactor (or, if you like, a birthday gift from my grandparents) I decided to head out and buy myself one. This may not seem much like a "project or task" but it intersects with at least three broader projects lose weight, get fitter, and spend less. I hope.

Anyway, I went to the shop I've spent months choosing to purchase the bike I've spent months researching only to find the cycle section practically bare and having a refit.

So I went home and did some washing up and vacuuming and changed the bedsheets instead, which are all tasks residing under the housework project, which is something I generally tend to avoid as much as possible.

I also responded to some work emails, which isn't the best thing for a day "off", I grant you, but that will hopefully contribute to the inbox 2000 project*.

What did you get up to?

* Inbox zero is a long way off.

Optimistic October: Day 6 - Being a Realistic Optimist

This is a refreshing one. So often we're told to look on the bright side, but there's often a reason for darker days and it pays to take note of the bad things sometimes so that we can change them rather than just coping with them. I'm going through some difficult things at the moment, but today's Optimistic October entry is about focusing on the good stuff. So here goes...

A family member has had some very, very bad news in the last couple of weeks...

... but we've still got time left to spend together, and things worth reminiscing about.

There are some things about work that frustrate the hell out of me...

... but I work in a unique role and every day drops something new in front of me. I learn new things all the time, and get brilliant feedback from people I work with externally on a regular basis.

I don't seem to have any time to myself...

... but that's because I am, in some senses of the word, 'successful'. I am in enormous demand at work, and outside of work is full of stuff to do, not least the PGCert course I'm working towards. My social life is... well, I have one, which is streets ahead of where I was a few years ago. I'm certainly not bored!

Some of my favourite people who are most important to me are the ones who are furthest away...

... but I know they're there, and I know they care.

Optimistic October: Day 5 - First Steps

I have plenty of goals that I'm working towards at the moment (you can see some in Day 1's Optimistic October post), but today's challenge is to take the first step towards what I'm interpreting as a new goal.

I've been meaning to read more. This is not something that I think I should do, but something I know I enjoy doing and life often gets in the way of it. My first step will be a pledge: