Make a list

19 April 2007

The days are getting longer and the light is getting brighter - how wonderful! For most of us, this time of year is the start of good things to come - a glorious summer to enjoy with our friends and loved ones. Recently I was interviewed for an article on 'burnout' in light of growing awareness of serious depression due to overwork, inhumanely long hours and peer-pressure; as well as generally losing touch with who we really are and what we truly want out of life. This is a huge, deep and dark subject. To me it is no wonder that this phenomenon increases in April, May and June. Spring is a time of light, growth and awareness, of seeing things as they really are with clarity. If we dread the thought of bright lights shining on our personal reality then it's time to take one day at a time in the knowledge that the only way forward is just to do the best that we can today. I have found that getting organized can be a positive and fun experience, so the first thing I do when things start get a bit overwhelming is make a to-do list. Before I can begin to take action I need to get straight in my head what I want to achieve - whether its clearing out the hall cupboard, shedding a few pounds and fitting into those great jeans, making a career change or starting a family - so everything goes on the list. If the writing of it causes your stomach to knot up, all the better. The bigger the reaction, the more it needs to be dealt with. And it will be. Just stay strong.

Roberta Stimson, m.b.r.c.p., mach.rt

Practitioner of Holistic and Preventative Medicine