When learning BSL, I believe we all suffer through what I call the ‘mid-course slump’. This is where you get halfway through the course, and you’re approaching exams or evidence collection, and you think to yourself.
“Can I be bothered to keep doing this?”
“is it worth carrying on with this when I don’t feel prepared?”
This, my friends, is the slump.
The excitement of starting a new BSL level is long gone, and the end seems so far away.
But what does this have to do with babies? Well, a friend of mine and I were having a bit of a moan, revelling in the way we were floundering in the mid-course slump, when another friend stopped us in our tracks and made a profound claim. She said:
“You’re 8 months pregnant and worrying about contraception. You’re having this baby, and there’s nothing you can do, so stop worrying about it.”
To me, this was a profound statement because it perfectly summarised where I was at – 60% through a course and worrying about why I had started it. A bit late to be thinking that, Alice.
The first thing you need to do when you find yourself in the slumps is to accept that you’re there. As easy as it is to say, “pick yourself up and move on”, it’s important to recognise why you’re feeling (for want of a better word) slumpy.
Secondly, you look at how you can shift your attitude to be more positive. One way could be to break down the rest of your learning time into small achievable goals to practise the skills that make you feel rubbish.
Thirdly, act on those goals. Actually, go ahead and win them – the more you achieve, the better you’ll feel!
The slump does not last forever – it will end, and you will pass (or have the baby – if we’re going back to our metaphor!)
Do you get into a slump? How do you deal with it? Let me know by commenting on this post.
