Here I am - April 2016

Hi,
It's been a while and I owe you an update. Aroud the time of publishing my last post on this blog  my husband and me created a YouTube channel 'KazikTV' and we have made our first video about English tenses as an experiment. It was great fun and we got loads of positive response from the viewers. The video is in Polish and you can find it here . Since then I streamed a lot of my time and energy into creating more videos and communicating with the viewers. In a way KazikTV became a form of a creative therapy and our shared passion keeping us busy during winter months.

Following my sicky I returned to work and after a few ups and downs I feel happy to be there and do what I do. I have made a few major changes to my work routine:
- I asked for reduction of my hours and I work 4 days a week, having Friday off.Having a three day weekend is FANTASTIC!
- I have changed the way I plan my tasks: instead of writing a list of tasks for a day I plan them within a week. It gives me more flexibility as I have blocks of time when I concentrate on preparing classes and teaching and blocks of admin time to do paperwork, make phone calls etc.
- I process my emails (delete most of them) and organize the important ones into folders( action/ reference/ student absences). When I check my emails I scan them quickly and delete everything I do not need to know about. Then I prioritize the ones I need to read or respond to. I respond to non urgent email during my admin block.
- I put all my classes, meetings and breaks into Outlook calendar I can share with my manager/ team-and I stick to my plan. I finish teaching a few minutes earlier which gives me a chance to talk to the students who need it and still have a lunch break.

After work I make time for doing things I enjoy and I do not feel guilty about it!
x
Between my sicky and now I attended a crash Stress Less course (4 sessions), Healthy Body Healthy Mind workshop,Work- Life Balance workshop and Communication and Assertiveness training. I really got hooked up on stuff on well being, managing stress and a personal development and I am still keeping my eyes open and take on any learning opportunity and trying new tools to help me feel great.

I have had a few worse days since November 2014, but I kept working and to touch wood I have not been off sick with stress any more. I think the most important thing I have learnt was to prioritize and love myself.
In the next few posts I will share the most important things I have learnt during the courses and workshops I have attended.