courtesy of photo: http://www.dreamstime.com/stock-images-extremely-busy-woman-image1417594
This is one example of a busy professional at work.
Have you stopped to think about how busy you are outside of work? Many people have multiple jobs, kids, family members, sports, extra curricular activities, etc. People wear so many hats today.
Do we ever stop to breathe?
I have had almost a full week off for vacation this holiday. Want to know how my vacation has been? VACATION IS WONDERFUL! I can't tell you the last time I have been this slow, this relaxed, and this flexible with my own time. (I'm guessing I had this much vacation/free time 13 years ago.)
Suddenly, I'm starting to declutter my life. I'm starting to question how busy I really want to be. I can hear my own thoughts again. I can suddenly remember what I really enjoy doing. I'm remembering the core of who I am, and I'm deciding what I will and will not do moving forward.
Now here's the catch. I suddenly feel lost without goals to meet, places to be, agendas to follow, etc. What am I supposed to do with no schedule?
That's the beauty. Maybe this is a sign it is time to stop being busy for everyone else and start being busy for myself. I admit it. I no longer have the ability or the desire to give to everyone else, to stop and help everyone, and to do everything for everyone else... but myself.
Do you ever take time for yourself?
Or do you make sure you are on the go 24/7?
I spoke with someone else earlier this week about this exact topic. There are always bills to pay and responsibilities we must meet. So people take on more jobs, more of everything, to try and fulfill these obligations. Instead of making progress, we wear ourselves down. We end of hurting ourselves more than making a positive difference. We both discovered (through our experiences over several years) it is better to be good at one thing than it is to be a master of many things.
For example: instead of having three jobs, keep one.
By having one job, you can focus and be good at this one job! You can spend more time with family. You can have downtime and personal time. There will be struggles, but live on what you earn. Make a budget. Make this schedule work for you. And if you don't like the one job, then maybe it's time to think about other options.
This is a quote she told me: instead of laying all your eggs in multiple baskets, lay your eggs in one basket so opportunities and success will multiply from this one passion.
My challenge to you (if you are one of these individuals): stop moving. stop being on the go. stop being insanely busy both inside and outside of work. Instead: be sane, be happy, and enjoy life.
If many people stopped being so crazy busy, I think we would all be surprised what the positive effects would be. We would be less stressed, healthier, probably more successful, and we would enjoy everything around us a little more.
