Why Did I Think a Master's While Working Full-Time Was a Good Idea? 🤔
Honestly, I’m starting to question my decision a bit!
The idea of taking on a master's degree while working full-time seemed like a brilliant plan at the time – a great learning opportunity, fulfilling, and even exciting.
But now?
Well, let’s just say that those sunny summer days with the Paralympics and Olympics to inspire me feel like a distant memory.
I mean, who wouldn’t be motivated watching legends like Dame Sarah Storey? 🚴♀️ She’s the queen of perseverance – I wrote about her recently, and honestly, when my energy is low and motivation is hard to come by, she’s my go-to for a motivational boost.
But consistent energy?
Yeah, not always possible for me, especially with chronic conditions in the mix. I have to work really hard to stay on top of my physical, emotional, and mental health – and it’s frustrating.
I wish I could just decide to do something, and boom, it’s done.
Instead, motivation tends to come with a healthy side of anxiety, and ADHD paralysis often kicks in. Instead of breaking down tasks into manageable chunks, my brain dives into minutia levels of detail, turning something simple into a complex operation. 🤯
Ironically, this is fantastic for work!
My brain’s wiring means I’m able to see the big picture – strategy, translation, and operations – then break it all down, create an action plan, and delegate.
With my background in child protection and safeguarding, my attention to detail and record-keeping are great (thankfully, because my working memory? Not so much, lol).
But when it comes to balancing life and all its demands, well, that’s a different story.
Lately, “busy” doesn’t even cut it. Things have been hectic, and with a string of bereavements and funerals this summer, I haven’t had the luxury of a real break – I’m in survival mode.
What gets me out of survival mode?
Self-compassion, self-regulation, and self-care.
Sounds simple enough, right?
Nope, not for me. I’ve been working on it for years, and it’s still work in progress. 🛠️
Time is finite, and that’s why, ultimately, I didn’t go back to playing high-level netball. It wasn’t my surgeries that held me back – I’ve been cleared, and I did play at a lower level for fun for a while.
But the thought of travelling all over the East of England and London for matches, training sessions, and adding in my gym work on top of everything else?
Just not feasible.
So, here I am, juggling work, study, life – with a healthy dose of humour to keep me going.
After all, if you can’t laugh at the chaos, you’d end up crying into your e-books! 📚😊
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