Hang in there, joemanc. I have lived my entire life in snow and ice country. I could tell you story after story about “relentless snow and ice” - some very recent experiences… But, it seems the problem is not snow and ice but the physical exhaustion and mental anxiety that the snow and ice is causing.
The physical exhaustion and mental anxiety could be part of any physical demanding work or duty. Maybe this experience will help…
I managed a project once that required clean rail cars to ship coal. In the winter, open rail cars would come in and some of them had from 1 to 20 tons of product in them mixed with ice and snow. The work required using propane weed torches under each hopper to thaw the ice, then you got inside the hopper and with shovels and a long heavy bar,. you broke up the junk, snow and ice until it came out the bottom of the car. Then you hand shoveled the blocks of snow and ice out of the way. I had a crew of 5 that would perform this work. But after an all night partying binge and a routine drug test elimination round, I had to let them go. This was during the peak demand for coal. it was up to yours truly to clean them. for a couple of weeks until we could rehire. Otherwise, a college would be without heat and I would lose my best customer. The weather was subzero cold. I cleaned rail cars for 18 days straight. About 5 cars a day was all I could handle. I was exhausted every day. All it seemed that I did was eat, sleep, drink and clean cars.
Then, one day I realized a few things. First, it was absolutely beautiful out there. The air was crisp and clean. The snow and ice gave the landscape a bright wihite surreal glow. Sounds were deadened but you could pick out the tiniest bird sound or water drip. I liked getting my body warmed up and just picking my way though the day. No politics. No BS. Just work, eat, drink, breathe, work, eat, drink, breathe, work, eat, drink, breathe…
Second, I liked the sense of accomplishment. I knew what I had to do, how to do it and what the end result was. I knew people on the end of that shipment counted on me and it was up to me to deliver. I was a part of something bigger than myself.
Third, I was learning to love it. I remember watching a Disney movie with my daughter called “Holes” where boys at a corrections facility were required to dig a hole everyday as round and as deep as their shovel handles. One boys to everyone’s amazement (and worry for his mental state) exclaimed, “I LOVE to dig holes!”. I was geting to where I loved cleaning cars. Like the boy in the movie, I was empowered. Digging holes was supposed to be demeaning and punishing. And for a degreed engineer and manager, cleaning railcars should have probably been demeaning and punishing but it wasnt - I friggin’ liked it!
So, joemanc, here is my advice. Safety first. Dont kill yourself. Pace yourself. Hard work won’t hurt you. Stress and accidents will. Take each and every moment one step at a time. Dont try to eat the elephant in one sitting. Just take one bite at a time and work your way through it.
Second, get the best eats, drinks and rest you can muster. You need hydration and food to keep your body and mind going. You need sleep and rest for your body to heal.
Third, engage your creative mind. Relax and think it through. Prioritize the work. If the urgency is roof collapse, then figure out where the weak areas of the house and focus on those. Get help if you can find it. Find some youth to help you. Maybe a neighbor with a tractor needs a snow rake. Rake off his roof and have him move snow around the housewith his tractor. Figure out a better way.
Fourth, reach deep and enjoy the moment. Eventually, winter will break and spring will bring new beginnings.
Hope this helps…
