What I realized at the onset of the pandemic

I thought that it would be the best thing ever to be able to work from home and never go into the office. In the beginning it was great as I loved to work from home anyway because I got more done and drivebys were not prevalent. What I realized is that the interaction with the team was really nice. To keep up with things and talk with people physically was more important than I thought. I also found out that I was perfectly OK without interaction while working and that I was more of an introvert than I thought. But now I did not get to travel to SQL Saturday’s and speak, I did not go to the User Group physically and catch up with the members. So while I loved being in my home-office and was perfectly content, I was not perfectly content. I had a side of me that wanted to interact and see the whites of peoples eyes and present in front of. In the end I wanted to be with the #SQLFamily more than I thought I would.

Health Ramifications

I don’t think I take care of myself as much as when I was in the office. I eat worse and I sit all day and find myself having sat for hours on end without drinking water or eating anything. I don’t think that I am in better health than before the pandemic. I weigh more and I have not developed good habits as I should. So I have to start thinking about long term and not short term in my health. I am grateful to have been shown this by the pandemic, I know I cannot keep doing what I have been doing and be OK. I am beginning to put together a plan to get more healthy and develop good habits around exercise, good office practices (taking breaks, getting up from the chair, standing for a bit) so that I can be more healthy and happy, less stress and a good outlet to the daily grind.

My Advice to others

Really it is about finding out who you are and what you want to be. To be of help to your colleagues you need to keep up with yourself and have something to offer. I have given all my time, effort and really everything to everyone else, and I love to do it because growing is very important in keeping your mental health. If you do not learn and grow, you stagnate which means that you start to feel like you don’t have anything to offer and if that is a pattern every day, then it will be really detrimental a month from now, because the frog doesn’t get boiled overnight, it takes a slow rise of temperature and the frog stays in the water until the heat is so much that he cannot get out of the water because of no strength and then he boils. Don’t let the temperature of your water slowly cook you to death, recognize right now that you are in that pot of water and you want to ensure that you get out on dry land to make a difference. Give a little and then give a little more, but remember to give to yourself at the same time. Mostly so that you can thrive, grow and learn the things that make you, you. Take care of yourself through this pandemic and remember that you are a great part of our #SQLFamily and we need you to be complete. Stay safe and see you out there.

The post How is the pandemic going for you? (T-SQL Tuesday #132) appeared first on DBAduck.

I like this topic because I think about it all the time.  I have learned so much from others and I am trying each year to ensure that I give back by speaking at SQL Saturday’s across the country.  No one pays for my trips (most of the time) but it is the least I can do for those that have helped me in my career.

Giving back is so much more than just speaking or giving a gift, it is about helping someone replace you in the Community. Mentoring, speaking, teaching and leading.  I lead my SQL Server User Group locally with another awesome guy and I speak at local events thanks to another great guy. In our town we have Utah Geek Events run by Pat Wright who keeps us full of opportunities to give back. I just cannot get enough.

So this year will be full of speaking, leading the group and attending the other User Group locally

to ensure that I am available. Not for love given to me but to ensure that if I have experience that someone needs, that I am there to share with no strings, no ego and no agenda. That is how I will give back this year.

I hope to blog more and get more articles written and to support just a little bit more than last year so that people looking to learn will have yet another place to go to get some help. Thanks to all those that have helped me along the way, most of you know who you are and the list would be way too long to list here and I would for sure leave someone out and I would never do that to my #SQLFamily.

Happy Holidays and see you around.

The post T-SQL Tuesday #61–Giving Back appeared first on DBAduck.