Yesterday was a day of realisations. A great day spent at the football, watching the rugby, and having a proper chat with my grandson and a friend turned into something more than just a casual conversation. We got onto the topic of work—how I’m always available, how my personal number is used by the office, how I’ve been doing the “right” thing for so long without questioning what it was costing me.
And then it hit me.
For years, I have been completely accessible, always there when needed. I’ve done the “right” thing because it’s who I am, because it’s what I thought was necessary. But at what cost? I suddenly realised that for all my dedication, I had given up something crucial—my own space, my own separation between work and life.
So, I made a change.
I got a new personal number. The old one will stay active, but only because it’s cheap to keep—otherwise, it will be switched off when I’m off work. I removed all work-related emails, documents, and accounts from my personal laptop. It’s a small thing, but it felt like a massive shift. It felt like reclaiming something that should have been mine all along.
And then, another realization—my photo-a-day project, something I started because I love photography, had started to become a pressure point. Yesterday, I found myself stressing over taking the *right* photo, instead of just enjoying the process. I did take a photo, but not for the sake of the challenge—just because I wanted to. And that’s what it should be about.
I’m not stopping. But I *am* going to stop overthinking it. I want to use my time better, focus on what matters, and let go of the pressure to always be available, always be on call, always be doing something for someone else.
Today, I took my photo first thing in the morning, with no stress and no overthinking. Just breakfast and a moment captured. And that’s how it should be.
