Aaaahhhhh! Deep breaths everyone. Kids or no kids, everyone feels exhausted and stressed this time of year. Summer is over, winter schedules are upon us and it feels like we must get our house in order….am I right?
I have a lot in the air right now. I added on a whole bunch of wellness courses and even those seem to be “obligations”. I also went back to having a hard time saying no to people….that “year of yes” people blog about, where they say yes no matter what to “experience more”…..yup, unintentionally had that year. On top of that, I am trying to spend more quality time with my kids, work on my inner wellness and brand myself.
Four courses, major life shifts, new exercises and battles with my gut issues later and I am feeling a bit- okay, a lot- burnt out. Of course, that manifested itself in a monster of a cold this week and it forced me to slow down. And that forced me to think…..
HOW?
How can I pare down my life to more essential tasks?
How can I say no to certain things without burning bridges?
How can I include wellness in my routine without feeling overloaded?
How am I important in this equation?
Time in nature is a great way to de-stress
It helped a lot. I sat down and thought a lot about what I was taking on. What could be eliminated? What could be highlighted? I made some tough decisions. I thought that would stress me out, but, the opposite occurred, and I felt instantly lighter. I let go of a lot of things beyond my control but I also made decisions about some major tasks I felt I needed to do, by crossing them off entirely or extending the deadline. I’m also adding in “Wellness Time” or “Me Time” to my schedule every day so that I don’t overwork myself. I get in to the zone and don’t even realize…..on the other hand, I am trying to take that time without guilt. It’s a struggle but I will get there. I have always “back-burnered” my own needs and I am trying to put me at equal footing with others. I need to realize my worth is just as valuable as meeting others’ needs constantly. If you are a giver, you will relate. It’s okay to give! But give to yourself, too. This is what I am trying to teach myself.
So I have decided to:
- Prioritize what is important
- Lower my work load where I can
- Take 10-20 minutes away from work a day, without guilt, and do something for myself
- Organize my schedule, including rest times and family times
- Make time for hobbies and creative outlets
It’s crazy how simple this seems, and how hard to do it actually is!
Stress, whether it be from taking on too many tasks (however wellness related they seem), money, or situations should be examined, embraced or eliminated depending on the situation. Don’t let the burden of stress crush you. Meditate, ruminate and examine it closely. Take your power back however you can. Love yourself enough to do that.
Have a great day!
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