I’m Natalie, the Operations Lead here at Bird, and this is my first time writing the blog… gulp! Today, I’d like to share a recent conversation.
C is a dear friend. C signed up to this blog after a Bird webinar at the charity where we worked together in an HR team. C suggested I apply for this role when Hannah advertised it in the newsletter in November. The rest is history – thank you, C.
C and I met up recently. It had been a while. We speak often but we’d not been in the same place for many months – you likely know the feeling. Being together meant our conversations ran deeper than over the phone or in texts. The bit I’d like to share with you covered some tricky feelings about work, and went like this:
C: This can’t carry on. I can’t go on like this. I know I want something else… but how to start thinking about what that could be? I feel so tired.
Me: I get it. It’s hard to make space for that sort of thinking when you’re working so hard. You work really hard.
C: I’m meant to [insert a leisure activity that brings joy and satisfaction] this evening but… I don’t feel great. The [insert physical manifestation of burnout] I had last week is lingering. I’m very frustrated. I’m working when I don’t feel great, then not able to do the things I enjoy because I’m exhausted.
We commiserated over how working full time can mean there’s little energy, motivation or space left at the end of the day for thinking or even for doing anything fun. Fun is fundamental.
I asked if C might consider some coaching with one of our Bird coaches. C and I have both had coaching before and seen how through it we’ve changed and grown into new jobs, homes, hobbies and more. C thought for a few moments, and said yes, coaching might help with navigating this tricky time, with finding a way to move through the fog.
Maybe you can relate to C’s feelings. Maybe you have a clear question or issue in mind, or maybe you don’t know where to start. Our coaches can help with any of these or anything in between.
This is an invitation to take some space to think – and for one of our coaches to be with you and listen as you do. You never know… it might be fun. Drop us a line – we can’t wait to hear from you!
With love as always, Natalie and Team Bird
Photo by Jeremy Perkins on Unsplash