Hey all!
I mentioned in my last post that I needed a break from the internet. Well, I kinda needed a break from everything. About three weeks ago, I was sick and took a few days off from work. This threw off my entire to do list, and even though I was sick, I felt GUILTY!
Why?
Because I took a few sick days! Isn't that crazy? But I've grown so accustomed to not taking care of myself in pursuit of getting the work done that I just didn't know what to do with myself.
Once I got a bit better, I felt I had to catch up. I went in the following Saturday, spent long hours at work the following week, and worked from home to try to catch up. It all came to a head two weekends after being sick. I literally had to talk myself out of going to work on a Sunday! I really didn't want to go, despite the nagging guilt that was eating me alive.
I should point out that I make my own schedule. So I can go in whenever I want. And although alot of people would see that as a plus, I find it to be very stressful. Because in my mind, if the work doesn't get done, then it looks like you must be slacking off. I feel an increased pressure to be productive so it looks like you are responsible with your flexible schedule.
Anyway, I managed to talk myself out of going into work that Sunday ( I worked the day before though 😒). I cleaned my apartment, cooked dinner, did my dishes, and enjoyed my free time. Can you believe that I had to convince myself to do that?
In the end, the work I wanted to do on Sunday was done on Monday without any issue. I changed my work pattern to get in early so I could catch up on work AND leave on time. And I am feeling much less burned out now that I have prioritized sticking to a set work schedule and making a reasonable amount of time for myself.
Now you share: Do you ever feel guilty about spending time on yourself? What things keep you away from taking care of yourself? Have you found ways to balance your life? Share in the comments!
Related Posts: Mindfulness, Gratitude
Hi everyone,
So this past Wednesday, I woke up with a bad cold. I could barely drag myself out of bed. I have a flexible schedule, so I hit snooze for a little while. But once I finally woke up, anxiety set in immediately.
I have such a long to do list! Why did I sleep in? How long will I have to stay at work to catch up on everything?
I hadn't even gotten out of bed, I could barely breath because of my cold, and I felt awful, but my thoughts had already fast-forwarded to the end of the day. What a mess! I had to stop myself and force myself to return to the present moment. I took a deep breath and focused on getting ready for work, one step at a time. I allowed my self to have breakfast and a cup of coffee instead of running out the door with a granola bar, guilt and anxiety.
Once I got to work, it turned out some of the things on my to do list couldn't be done on that day anyway. And a few other things were pushed until the next day. I was able to leave on time and get some rest to get over my cold.
Moral of the story: There is no point in driving yourself crazy over what may happen in the future. When you feel that urge, I suggest taking a deep breath and focusing on what's in front of you at that very moment.
How about you? Any suggestions on how to increase mindfulness and remain in the present moment? Share below!
Related Post: #WeeklyInspiration: Gratitude
That is a direct quote from the bf, who likes to remind me of how much he loves water and how great it is to drink. Why does he do this, you ask? Because I hate water!!! And he is only trying to help convince me that its not so bad.
I am definitely not one of these people that goes through three Nalgene bottles worth of water a day. Quite the opposite: all of my water comes from coffee, which means I am pretty dehydrated all the time.
Dehydrated...and jittery...and unable to sleep...check out this Prevention article to learn more about the effects of too much coffee.
Well not anymore! I am trying to increase my water intake. Of course, since I hate water, this requires some flavoring. I squeeze lemons in my water; without that kick it would be unbearable:
I may have squeezed too much lemon in there, hence the cloudiness of the water.
I am trying to get through one pitcher a day, which is a huge change for me. Wish me luck!
And if you would like to read more about the health benefits of water, then check out this article from Harvard Health Blog.
