Friday Focus 20/10/2023 – Overwhelmed

I’m overwhelmed, overstretched, overloaded and exhausted this week. Trying to juggle too many balls and feeling like I’m dropping most of them. I don’t feel on top of anything this week. It’s been a week of poor sleep, grief bursts, and a mental load that quite frankly feels like it’s about to crush me. I’m trying to prioritise the urgent things on the list and remind myself that it really isn’t the end of the world if some things have to get pushed back to after half-term (although most of the things that are being pushed back are the things that keep getting pushed back and are therefore becoming increasingly urgent!). I’m also trying to balance that with doing things that aren’t priorities but help keep me sane (like letting off some steam writing this post!)

Next week is a dance festival week, show week and Sophie’s birthday week with everything that needs to happen with all of those things. It will happen because I know I’ll make it happen but it feels overwhelming.

I’ll get there, I know I will but right now I’d quite like to run away from it all and escape to a desert island!

What I’ve been grateful for this week:

• Day 286 - I am grateful for 23 years with my lovely husband.

• Day 287 - I am grateful for moments of calm in a busy day.

• Day 288 - I am grateful for the end of a very busy (and emotionally draining at times) day. Time to wind down and sleep.

• Day 289 - I am grateful for snuggles with Sophie after rehearsal.

• Day 290 - I am grateful for being able to meet with Thomas’s teacher for parent’s evening rather than having a video call.

• Day 291 - I am grateful for an earlier finish for children and chorus at our last rehearsal before getting into the theatre.

• Day 292 - I am grateful that Sophie enjoyed the opportunity to dress up for the Halloween dress-up session at her dance school.

Other things that have made me smile this week:

• Sophie and Thomas having fun at their school disco.

• Sophie’s excitement at a visit from the tooth fairy.

• Watching videos of my dad playing the piano and remembering him on what would have been his 90th birthday.

• Quiet time sitting with Jessica.