Navigating the Peaks and Valleys
We all have peaks and valleys during our life. Periods of time when things are extremely busy and times when there is a lull.
Over the last few weeks, my life has had a lot more peaks than valleys. Through it all, my daily writing had quite a few posts about what I was thinking and feeling. Those posts went live on the blog this week and are linked below.
This week, I came across a Fast Company post on LinkedIn that made me stop and reflect on this busy season. The title of the article referenced “Hushed Coping”, which they defined as follows:
“Hushed coping describes the habit of squashing down feelings of overwhelm and stress, and struggling along in silence.”
I had a mixed reaction to this article because of the angle that it took. They focused on women feeling they needed to push down feelings of anger, irritation, helplessness, and sadness. I’m not convinced of 3 things:
- That hushed coping is just women
- That the reason is fear of expressing feelings at work
- That hushed coping only happens for this reason
Thinking about this after a busy few weeks was perfect timing. During these busy waves, I have the tendency to take a calm “everything” is fine approach. On the inside, I’m definitely not calm!
Over the years, my perspective has always been that I wanted to feel confident in in my ability to handle the project at hand (at work or at home). I also wanted to be strong for my team (or family/friends) who was also going through the experience.
My hushed coping is not about me…. or driven by a fear of sharing feelings. For me, it’s driven by the desire to ease the stress of those around me. If I can show a path, they can feel better.
If you read the article, I would be curious what perspective you walk away with. Do you think hushed coping shows up as they describe or do you see it differently?
Posts This Week
The Upside of a Full Schedule. There are many challenges when our schedules become busy. This post explores a potential hidden benefit.
Quiet. People recharge in different ways. For me, quiet has become a necessary aspect for me to renew energy to continue the day. This post reflects on how my recharging has shifted.
Motivate or Procrastinate. There is a fine line between these two. Lately I’ve been feeling pulled to procrastinate and I’m struggling to figure out why.
Rainy Days. September has been full of rainy days around here. This post explores how they can inspire both productivity and relaxing laziness.
Regroup. The last post of the week highlights how at the end of a busy cycle we can feel the need to get things organized and regroup for what’s next.
Podcasts and Articles That Caught My Attention
No is a Wall. 6 minutes. Before Breakfast. This episode reminds us that if we always say no, people will stop asking. While that can be good in some situations, it’s not in others.
Some of My Favorite Rules, Paradoxes, Laws, and Razors. 8 minutes. Little Happier with Gretchen Rubin. This is a fun collection of human “laws” that Gretchin has discovered through science or personal observation.
What Makes a Good Game? 14 minutes. TED Talks Daily. In this podcast, Eric Zimmerman suggests that we can make any project more playful by setting a few good rules. The power of constraints can provide both creativity and fun.
Last week, I wrote about morning and evening routines. I came across an article this week from Gretchin Rubin with her perspective on morning routines and how to stick with them. For those considering a new routine, I think it’s worth reading.
What Do You Think?
Have you ever experience hushed coping at work or at home?
How do you recharge – in community with others or in a quiet space on your own?
What ideas did the posts & podcasts spark that you could implement in the week ahead?
Marketing Newsletter
This week the Fingerprints Marketing newsletter took a bit of a different angle on marketing techniques… considering how you can upcycle or recycle marketing content and techniques. There are also several articles and podcast summaries that I hope will resonate.