January has been a busy month, as I’m preparing to start a new Post Grad course soon. I love learning and am excited to be moving on to a new chapter, but getting ready for it has taken priority in the last few weeks. Which also means that my usual routines have gone astray recently, and this got me thinking. How do we deal with the downside of reaching up?
In an ideal world, we’d be able to do all the things in ample time. But in reality, juggling work and family commitments leaves us with little spare time as it is. So when we add in another big project, whether it’s studying or working on another personal goal, somethings gotta give.
And for me recently, it’s been the time I would usually spend on myself, whether it’s exercise or meal planning or self care. The things that can be put off in other words. But until we stop doing them, we don’t realise how important they are.
And another thing we don’t factor in is the sense of frustration and confusion we feel at not being able to get everything done. (Or done as well as I would have liked, should I say).
When did we start putting so much pressure on ourselves?
We all know that we can’t do everything all the time, and we know that we “have to be a bit kinder to ourselves”. This is exactly what we’d say if we were talking to a friend. But doesn’t that make you want to throw up when you’re saying it to yourself?!
Its often much more difficult to take our own advice, for sure.
But this is where the change happens. When we push through or make changes. When we notice the pressure and actually do something about it, rather than let it go on until something gives. Usually it’s us, falling into a heap or quitting.
So if you’re struggling to find that balance, stick with it. And know that this is part of the process. It isn’t the just the end point that matters, it also matters how we got there. And stayed (hopefully) sane and resilient.
We can do hard things friends, and we can do them whilst being kind to ourselves too!
Photo by Green Chameleon on Unsplash