Well, I'm back

[white_hart]

The Lake District was lovely. We did a fair amount of walking, including a couple of reasonably strenuous if not terribly long (5-6 mile) walks and a guided walk with alpacas, I swam in Loweswater and Buttermere, read books and admired the views.

Being at home feels odd, like I've forgotten how to live here in the space of a week. (Being on holiday properly for the first time in two and a half years also felt very odd to start with, so I'm sure it'll pass.)

I think I do feel much less tired, and properly relaxed for the first time in ages.

Also, I have come to the conclusion that if I want to avoid burning out again, I need two things: first, I need to stop trying to be responsible for everything and start making my staff take some of that on, and secondly, I need to feel like I have someone who has my back can help me work through problems. The first one is doable, for values of doable which involve consciously changing the way I manage and getting people who have got quite comfortable with the way things have been to accept that; the second is more difficult, when I currently have a part-time interim line manager who I only see once a month (and missed this month's, as it was the week before last when I was off sick), and my new head of department, as far as I can tell, basically thinks I am the person who solves the problems. (I assume that at some point I will have a new permanent line manager, but I'm not sure they've even advertised the post yet, so I have no idea when that might be.)

Comments

[cmcmck]

Glad you had a nice time.

We really do need to organise a holiday!

[el_staplador]

Glad you had a good time! I enjoyed seeing the pictures.

And that sounds like a sensible approach. Hope the implementation proves straightforward.

[nanila]

Very glad you're feeling better. Please don't let them burn you out again the second you return.

[nineveh_uk]

Welcome back. It sounds like getting away for a proper holiday has been a very good thing.

[(Anonymous)]

This sounds thoughtful and wise. I am so pleased you were able to have a real proper break.

[white_hart]

Thank you!

[white_hart]

It felt very strange to start with but I do feel much better for it!

[white_hart]

Thank you. I will try not to!

[white_hart]

It definitely has.

[muninnhuginn]

Sounds like a lovely holiday. You certainly picked the right week weatherwise.

[andrewducker]

I'm glad you feel more relaxed, and are going to work on doing things differently so that you don't get stressed as much. I hope you manage it - I agree that a decent manager is a vital component thereof.