It's really hard to focus on a huge project-whether work or creative, while staying on top of your day-to-day. Countless productivity systems have been developed to help us get and stay and keep on track. They are literally almost hundreds of ways and systems that have developed over the past twenty years of chopping up one's time and focus, to try and create real and genuine balance in your life. BUT, that is NOT what this post is about...
One thing that I have found that really helps when stressing out big-time is to look at everything, in the midst of those same feelings of great overwhelm and stress, and appreciate, for a brief moment, what you really have going on in your life. If it's a lot, then you are lucky, man! Even if you are broke, financially struggling, working two jobs plus a side gig of walking five neighbor's dogs- you ROCK! If you have too much to do between big work commitments and raising a hectic family, how fortunate you are that you have that happening, and you have that family around you as a sustaining force, as well as the motivation to get up each day, and get sh*t done! A student going to school, but working every spare moment to cover her tuition and living expenses? She is already fifty percent ahead of a huge percentage of her non-working student friends, gaining knowledge and experience that is genuinely priceless. A single mom struggling? Hey, man, you have that great kid(s) that make you get out of bed every morning, and they rely on YOU for everything. Do you think they give two craps that you work at Trader Joe's, and have a catering gig and drive for LYFT on the side to help make rent each month? C'mon! They adore you!
In other words, having any amount stress in your life means you are, or are on your way, to doing really good things. Yep, the truth hurts: It's the way one handles the emotions stemming from the stress that creates how much we can succeed and achieve, whatever that means to you. (Also, if you have a boss or spouse from hell, these are different stresses, and ones we can refer you to get help in a professional way.)
This post is a gentle reminder to give yourself a little break. Seriously. Could you, in fact, not only be doing just okay, but actually, quite well, yes, thank you? Can you tally up a few good stars for a few things these past few weeks that you are proud and want to share? Of course you can! So, pat yourself on the back right now, and take that deep breath. You ROCK. I swear to God, you really do.
(And don't you forget it!)
Yes, we have all probably watched the Netflix series, “Tidying Up with Marie Kondo.” And yes, she is magic, and adorable, and very, very motivating. If you are on this site, I can only assume that you not only have also watched it in its entirety, but were inspired enough to Kondo your whole place, in order, as she suggests, starting with dumping every single piece of clothing and all of your shoes and accessories on your floor and the bed. (!) (Yes, I did this a few months back, too, and not for the first time!)…