Allotment Life and Mental Health
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 5 พ.ย. 2024
- It's been three weeks since the last video, and I wanted to give a bit of an explanation about why such a big break. Mental health is a hot topic right now, and TH-camrs are no strangers to burnout, fatigue, imposter syndrome, and for me a growing sense of dread about going to the allotment.
I'm alright, and making this video has really helped with that. I hope it helps if anyone else has been struggling, or for people in the future to maybe watch and know that they're not alone.
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A little bit about me and what My Carbon Coach is. I'm Tim, and three years ago I decided that I really needed to do something about the climate crisis. I couldn't sit back and do the bare minimum any longer and so my adventure of living more sustainably began.
I began studying a degree in Environmental Science with the Open University which I have just completed in June and whilst studying I started My Carbon Coach as a blog, TH-cam channel and social media presence. I chose the name because I want to help people reduce their impact on the environment through coaching and looking at reducing carbon footprints, then working together to make it so 🖖 basically the Marie Kondo of the carbon footprint world!
Along the way this has led to so many exciting adventures. Starting a monthly litter picking event, an online eco book club, and of course this allotment, and now by a strange twist of fate and a huge leap of faith the plastic-free shop and attached eco-school.
I love sharing my journey of reducing my own carbon 👣 and hope that it inspires you to make a change, or think about something from a different angle.
Much love, Tim
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#allotmentlife
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I was diagnosed with level 1 autism at the age 44 and suffer with social problems. My allotment has helped my confidence, headspace.
The main thing it’s helped with is my sensitivity to sounds and I’m having less meltdowns. I would recommend anyone with mental health to try gardening or get an allotment. 👍
I'm so glad to hear that your allotment is helping you so much Terry mate. It's really awesome that you've found something that works, and I'm glad you felt ok to share that, thank you.
@My Carbon Coach Thank you Tim, it took lots of time to except my challenges...but the allotment definitely helps, just like your channel 👍 and other like it. Keep up the good work.
Ah this was such an amazing vlog! Thank you Tim! Discovered your videos last night and nearly watched all of them. Loved seeing your progress and your ability to show your vulnerable side and successes! Im starting with an allotment myself with no prior experience and seeing your journey unfold has been inspiring. Thank you! Arista 🌱
Aw thank you so much, that really means a lot! I'm glad that I've helped you in some way, and i hope you take to allotment life, it really is wonderful overall. Please do let me know how you get on, and I will be back very soon with more videos, I just had to prioritise work over decamber and am just back from a bit of a holiday. Thanks Arista
A really heartfelt video update that I think will have resonated with every viewer - life is tough, and busy and full of our own expectations as well as those of others, so it's no surprise that we sometimes steer off course. Having to navigate a different course (as landed with you in July) comes with pressure too, and uncertainty. Tbh, you've done brilliantly and we're all so proud of you - where you are now, and all the good stuff to come! Never forget that you can't drink from an empty cup, so next time you need a drink (of any sorts), you know where I am 💚
Thanks so much for the lovely reply Bethan. The uncertainty is definitely unsettling. I went to the plot again this evening for 40 minutes. Sat down, ate some fig rolls, then did a bit of weeding and gave the mint a massive haircut! The fig rolls definitely helped, and felt good to just worry about one thing at a time instead of trying to take it all in. Will absolutely take you up on that drink asap!
I really sympathise and identify with what youve said and it is heartening that other people feel like this too. You’ve achieved so much this year I really admire how you go out and make it happen and are carving out your career in the things that matter so much to you. You’ve had so much going on I’d rather your allotment gave way than a blood vessel! Try not to worry too much, it all gets a bit (or a lot) overwhelming to me too and I put myself under pressure I really don’t need to. All the stuff on Instagram is something to maybe aspire to but not necessarily achieve and you have so many more important things going on than a perfect plot. Your plots doing great and all your followers are here because we accept you and your plot as you are and wish you well in all your ventures and if you need a break because you have other things going on we will still be here when you return. Sending much love, understanding and acceptance !
Thanks so much for the beautiful comment Clare. We are our own harshest critics, and I think that it's sometimes easy to lose perspective on what has happened, what has been achieved, and what obstacles have been overcome. There's actually been quite a lot of them this year!
If you ever need to chat if you're feeling down, or pressured or anything at all I'm always online(ish) and in a couple of weeks I'll be easy to find in my new shop! I really appreciate you (and everyone who subscribes/follows etc), thank you
@@MyCarbonCoach aww that’s really kind, thank you. It helps to look back at pictures to really remember how far you’ve come too. Your photo book you made was a great idea! Maybe a little journal too just to bullet point what was done when as it’s a quick reference to gauge progression. If I have a bad mental or physical health day I tell myself it’s likely tomorrow will be just fine again because often the joy does come back quicker than I imagine when I’m low. Looking forward to seeing how the shop goes if you post anything on social media
Well done Tim, it's sometimes hard to admit to anyone how much your feeling down, and to admit it on video for the whole world to see makes you stronger than you first thought, as you have realised yourself it is what it is, anyway Well done mate, keep those videos rolling.
Thanks David. I'm already planning what I'll be up to in next weeks video, I treated myself to a new lavender! Definitely feels good talking about it, but it is a bit weird that I probably wouldn't have been so honest or frank if I was face-to-face with someone! Cheers mate
Good video and good points Tim. My advice would be to concentrate on a few beds/areas of your allotment and if the rest goes a bit feral then that's fine - you are rewilding! Or maybe put some low maintenance crops in like fruit bushes etc. Its a new allotment and you are new to gardening so you've done well with what you have achieved. Take care buddy.
Thanks so much for the kind words mate. Definitely going to use the 'rewilding' card if anyone does say anything lol! Definitely good thinking to just take it steady, section by section. I'm sure it'll all come back to me and can really start to enjoy it again, have already started to feel happier up there over the weekend just enjoying watching the bees and chatting to my plot neighbours
@@MyCarbonCoach that's what it's all about. Not having a perfect plot.
We should never compare ourselves to others! Slippery slope down! No your worth🌺
That's true we shouldn't, and I believe most people know that. Isn't really helpful stopping you from doing so though when you're at a low point in life.
Hello Tim
This video is not a moan at all. The allotment is one of the few places were I don’t have to beat myself up. I try to get inspired from other YT allotmenteers not rushed to get my seeds in (to early) too. Or grow exotic vegetables in a climate that’s not suitable. Luckily my allotment is my therapy and I’m still able to relax up there. Hopefully it will be the same for you too, soon enough. Take care Joyce 💚👩🏻🌾🍀
Thanks Joyce. That's a really good thought, to be inspired by others rather than to fret more. I think it's just been a very strange year really with a lot of very uncontrollable stuff happening to me. I'm not going to give up, and I'm sure in time it will get back to being how it was last summer which really did feel magic rather than tragic!
I completely feel the same at times. My allotment is new this year and I do feel pressure to have it a certain way ( pressure I have put on myself) I think it's important to show both sides of social media and I think your video will not only be helpful now but in the future 🙂
Thanks so much Shannon. Hopefully knowing that other people feel the same helps take a bit of the pressure off! My plan of writing a list of really small jobs seems to be working, I don't feel like I have to take the whole thing on all at once. It's weird how I learn to do these things in a job, or at uni, but didn't really think about doing that up the allotment! doh!
@@MyCarbonCoach I know, maybe because of the gardens therapeutic elements? But it all contributes and sometimes it can feel like it becomes a chore and spirals from there. Your lists sound fab 👌and hopefully will help, its all positive steps. Well done 👏
Me too I got mine in April and also had a break down in April so it’s been a double edged sword. Sometimes social media can be so inspiring and uplifting but sometimes make you feel so inadequate, we need to be kinder and more realistic with ourselves and remember to put first what you want and what makes you happy with your plot rather than what Instagram dictates!
@@clareellam1615 yes couldn't agree more 👏
Including people in your world is not moaning. Everyone gets down, but some of us, perhaps multitudes, suffer terribly from depression as mental illness. The fight is real, and you need to know you have an army with you. 👍👍🇨🇦❤️
Thanks so much. Yeah that was a rough time and looking back a culmination of all sorts of things going on along with lockdowns. Really appreciate your kind words Frances