I am (slowly) knitting a cushion cover.

Truth be told I have dropped a few stiches, but I've decided to embrace imperfection and cover the gaps with some nice buttons!

Very good for the recovering perfectionist in me...

"We must not, in trying to think about how we can make a big difference, ignore the small daily differences we can make which, over time, add up to big differences that we often cannot foresee."

-Marian Wright Edelman

How are you doing?

Things are rough in healthcare at present, I'm sure you'll agree.

Years of exhaustion, stress and frustration among NHS staff have culminated in the doctors' strikes, similar themes to those behind the nurses' and paramedics' strikes.

Whether you are directly involved in strikes, covering for an absent colleague or looking on, times like these can sometimes feel overwhelming.

I know from working in the NHS and surviving burnout, that pinch points like these are critical.

If we can find helpful strategies when stress piles up it can make a huge difference.

But how?

Something I learnt in my Burnout recovery was the power of small.

When things feel too much, start small; with a really small positive change. And, if at all possible, repeat that small action.

Realistically, small changes are often the easiest to implement. And, if repeated, their cumulative power is mighty.

Michele Obama talks about this in her book, 'The Light We All Carry'; I am half way through and already inspired.

She talks about her low spirits following Trump's inauguration, (totally understandable in my view) and how, through focusing on small steps, she regrouped and was able to continue tackling the big issues too.

Surprisingly, she describes knitting as one of her small changes. If it works for the former First Lady, it's worth a try - hence I my attempts at the cushion cover!

What positive step can you take in the next week despite everything?

How can you make it so small it is do-able?

How can you implement plan to repeat it?

Finally, with World Book Day just behind us - what is the last book you read which you found inspiring?

Fresh Ideas for You

For more on Michelle Obama - The Light We All Carry - click here.
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