Self-care Spotlight and Support

Hi Mike, tell us a bit about yourself…

After university, I trained as a mathematics teacher and worked at a number of schools. I ended up as Deputy Head and was the Designated Safeguarding Lead. Within that role, I was very conscious of children’s mental health. I am married with three (now adult) children and two grandchildren. I am generally happy and outgoing.

What does self-care mean to you?

Self-care is a fundamental, mind, body and spirit. It is important not to confuse self-care with being selfish. When we are under pressure, perhaps at work and working to deadlines, we often neglect ourselves and this can be extremely detrimental. There are many aspects to selfcare, including having a healthy lifestyle. This will include eating healthily, keeping hydrated, regular exercise and getting sufficient sleep. It is also important not to allow health concerns to go unmonitored. But, we also need to make time to pursue our interests and hobbies and also just to switch off and relax. Laughter can have hugely positive benefits. Friendships and family are also so important. Ironically, self-care can also be rooted in caring for another. I find that volunteering helps me also. As well as volunteering at PAPYRUS, which I am finding very fulfilling, I am a member of an organisation which arranges visits to lonely people. Another aspect of self-care is “letting go”, not bearing grudges and not dwelling on or worrying about situations that you can do nothing about.

My own hobbies, include exercising (cycling, skipping and rowing machine), listening to and playing music and reading. I still pursue Mathematical interests.

Do you have a routine time for your self-care?

Being retired, I have the advantage of not having to timetable my self-care, so I can be very flexible. I generally do not have to work to deadlines anymore (don’t tell my wife I said that!). However, when I was a teacher, I tended to go to the gym immediately before or after school and cycle, run or swim at weekends and during the holidays.

What’s a good piece of advice you’d like to pass on to the readers?

I am not sure how appropriate it is for me to advise others without seeming patronising. But If I were to advise my younger self, it would be along the lines of there being a time for everything and at that time give 100% to whatever it is.

That is so difficult, I do not have a single favourite, but I can narrow it down to cycling and listening to music. My musical tastes are wide and include both classical and modern. Before lockdown, I attended numerous concerts.

What would you say were your favourite songs or pieces of music?

My favourite composer is Beethoven, I particularly enjoy listening to his 3rd, 5th, 6th and 7th Symphonies and his Violin Concerto. I enjoy listening to many bands and it is difficult to choose favourites, it depends on how I feel or sometimes, something pops into my head and I have to go and listen to it.

Support Services

HOPELINEUK

HOPELINEUK is PAPYRUS’s free and confidential helpline, ran by trained suicide prevention advisers. www.papyrus-uk.org

Call: 0800 068 41 41 Text: 07860 039 967 Email: pat@papyrus-uk.org

LGBT+ support services

Mermaids UK - https://mermaidsuk.org.uk/

Gendered Intelligence - https://genderedintelli gence.co.uk/

Mind Out - https://mindout.org.uk/