I have got a small secret to tell....I haven't been practicing what I preach! I talk of balance and being kind to oneself and not biting off more than you can gnaw - but this month I overdid it. I share this with you because this situation is one we all find ourselves in, at some time or another.
I have to say that I don't like being too busy , except for some foolish reason I believed it might be a good idea to take 2 classes on top of my already awfully full life. The classes are great, but I like - no, need - to have enough time to write blog entries, have a social life, play with my children (OK that?s the number one thing that I wouldn't let suffer), for example. It's one of those situations where everything sounds really good, and you want to do it all, now.
I did not even overdo it with anything that I detest - I just piled on too many things that were fun - telling myself, "I think I can, I think I can...."
I now loathe that tiny blue engine that would and everything he stands for. My kids have this book and I took a quick peek at it after this breezed right into my head and I have to say - what a handful of rubbish!!!
The truth is, we can each have a lot of good activities and plans in our lives. We just can't have them all at once.
Biting off more that you cancomfortably chew isn't a message that I would like to share with my kids. Realistically, is it really a smart idea for a little engine short of horsepower to pull a big load up a large hill when he could kill himself and everyone he's pulling if he fails?
I suspect not.
While it is critical to think that you can attain your wildest dreams and go for it, I don't think it's sensible to teach our children to take on idiotic challenges. You do have to know your limits (we are human after all) and be clever about the hazards that you take on.
There is the concept of taking moderated risks- ones where you know that you have a good chance at being successful.
I ought to know better (I'm a psychological specialist and my hubby teaches people a streamlined way to use tech to make their lives and their enterprises go smoothly and immediately) and I am taking action to clear my agenda and remedy the situation.
I temporarily forgot the first rule of stress management - DO LESS! Even far too much of a good thing can be exhausting irrespective of how enticing it can be to squeeze just one more thing in.
If you are feeling overwhelmed, take a good hard look at what you can cut out to make your life easier. Just because you might be able to do something in the near term does not imply that it is a clever idea to keep doing it indefinitely.
If you're employed 40 hours a week, commute 5 hours (and that is on the low side for many of us most people), spend 30 hours each week keeping your place together (that is the average amount of time spent cleaning, running errands, paying bills, etc), hopefully 5 hours a week exercising, and if you have kids forget about the remainder of your leisure time - you're going to crash and burn.
Take steps now to cut out what drains you (or occasionally who drains you) and simplify your life. If you can't cut back at work, you're going to have to cut back on housework either by hiring someone, shedding stuff so you don't have to pass some time organizing and cleaning it, or working out other creative solutions (e.g, I adore my roomba).
Be cruel. If you're feeling overwhelmed you owe it to yourself and to those who have to live with you to do less!
I have to say that I don't like being too busy , except for some foolish reason I believed it might be a good idea to take 2 classes on top of my already awfully full life. The classes are great, but I like - no, need - to have enough time to write blog entries, have a social life, play with my children (OK that?s the number one thing that I wouldn't let suffer), for example. It's one of those situations where everything sounds really good, and you want to do it all, now.
I did not even overdo it with anything that I detest - I just piled on too many things that were fun - telling myself, "I think I can, I think I can...."
I now loathe that tiny blue engine that would and everything he stands for. My kids have this book and I took a quick peek at it after this breezed right into my head and I have to say - what a handful of rubbish!!!
The truth is, we can each have a lot of good activities and plans in our lives. We just can't have them all at once.
Biting off more that you cancomfortably chew isn't a message that I would like to share with my kids. Realistically, is it really a smart idea for a little engine short of horsepower to pull a big load up a large hill when he could kill himself and everyone he's pulling if he fails?
I suspect not.
While it is critical to think that you can attain your wildest dreams and go for it, I don't think it's sensible to teach our children to take on idiotic challenges. You do have to know your limits (we are human after all) and be clever about the hazards that you take on.
There is the concept of taking moderated risks- ones where you know that you have a good chance at being successful.
I ought to know better (I'm a psychological specialist and my hubby teaches people a streamlined way to use tech to make their lives and their enterprises go smoothly and immediately) and I am taking action to clear my agenda and remedy the situation.
I temporarily forgot the first rule of stress management - DO LESS! Even far too much of a good thing can be exhausting irrespective of how enticing it can be to squeeze just one more thing in.
If you are feeling overwhelmed, take a good hard look at what you can cut out to make your life easier. Just because you might be able to do something in the near term does not imply that it is a clever idea to keep doing it indefinitely.
If you're employed 40 hours a week, commute 5 hours (and that is on the low side for many of us most people), spend 30 hours each week keeping your place together (that is the average amount of time spent cleaning, running errands, paying bills, etc), hopefully 5 hours a week exercising, and if you have kids forget about the remainder of your leisure time - you're going to crash and burn.
Take steps now to cut out what drains you (or occasionally who drains you) and simplify your life. If you can't cut back at work, you're going to have to cut back on housework either by hiring someone, shedding stuff so you don't have to pass some time organizing and cleaning it, or working out other creative solutions (e.g, I adore my roomba).
Be cruel. If you're feeling overwhelmed you owe it to yourself and to those who have to live with you to do less!
About the Author:
Dr. Christine Korol is a psychologist who focuses on helping those experiencing anxiety and worry. Visit her site for tips, anxiety cartoons, and more resources on stress reduction.
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