I expect motivation is the one of the most common titles for a blog post at this time of year, but the reason I called my post motivation hasn’t anything to do with the new year. I’ve not posted for 4 years – which has a lot to say about my motivation! Over the last 12 months my life has changed a lot. I know that since March 2020 most of our lives have altered – some more than others – but the winds of change had already approached mine when I left full time employment in October 2019.
I’d always worked full time building a career in HR which I really enjoyed. Some of the roles I loved, others not so much but generally my working life has been a good one. In 2019, just turning 58 my plan was to carry on working for another 2 years and then to start doing some consultancy work – although I have worked for years and years for reasons I won’t bore you with my pension is derisory. Anyway to cut a long story short we had a restructure at work and the prospect of moving to a different role, especially with G working part time, did not appeal. So I took the jump (and the money!) and left. Two months off before Christmas then launched my self employed business in January. Working with an ex-colleague there was lots of work for 3 months and I thought life was amazing until the cloud of Covid cast over us all. From loads of work in March to nothing at all in April was something of a shock, more of a shock that the government’s schemes to protect workers didn’t seem to be interested in people who were newly self employed. Anyway it hasn’t all been doom and gloom and after the initial downturn work has picked up again.
Covid lockdown and restrictions have shown me a lot:
- not working such long hours is nice
- there are more important things in life than how much you earn
- when we have to spend more time together than we have ever ever ever in our whole lives me and him rub along quite well together
- our campervan – bought in May 2019 – was best ever purchase as it meant we could get away when restrictions allowed, feeling safe in our home on wheels
- cooking together is fun
- I can’t sit down and watch TV unless I have some knitting or crochet on the go
- some of the things I thought I would do if only I had more time I am actually not quite so keen to do – this is a long list
- writing a book
- keeping up to date with documenting photos
- all the little craft projects that are half finished
- improving my running speed / distance
- keeping a nice tidy house (no-one can come in so why bother!)
Motivation is a funny thing. Time is not a motivator. Desire to do something is. Setting goals, feeling challenged by the task but not overwhelmed seem to be key. So in 2021 I will be setting myself some goals and trying not to feel I am needing to eat the whole elephant with everything that I do.
Post Fifty 