Do you ever wake up feeling anxious or in a panic about what lies ahead in your day? I struggle with having my hand in many things and as a result, feel like there is simply not enough time in the day to accomplish everything. You likely juggle a few different roles in your life, and getting that “balance” thing down can be challenging.
This morning, I woke up feeling pulled in many directions, and the mental tension was high. I am a contract sewer for a local doll company, so sewing is always on my mind. I also need to work on building my counselling business—many to do’s there…and shoot, we’re out of groceries so I need to shop and figure out meals for the week. I’ve been meaning to start decorating for Christmas as a fun self-care outlet, but I keep putting it off…and I feel guilty about that.
Feeling pulled in multiple directions can stretch us thin, and can wear down focus because we simply do not know what to focus on. We end up running around trying to do it all and then feeling like nothing was accomplished. Can you identify? Here are three things I plan on implementing TODAY to help with that:
- Time block. Block out your time so that you are doing ONE thing for a good long chunk of time before switching it up. If you work outside of the home, you may have less flexibility, but when you get home, block off your evening into a chunk or two of focused activity. Perhaps Monday evenings you go grocery shopping, Tuesday evenings you spend an hour doing some light meal prep, Wednesdays from 7-8 pm you tackle paperwork, and Thursday evenings are devoted to a hobby. Here’s what I came up with for today:
9-12 work on business
12-1 lunch
1-3 Costco & groceries
3-5:30 handball Cara
5:30-6:15 dinner
6:30-9 sewing
9-10 relax/wind down
- Single task. This relates to time blocking, but you’re breaking your time blocks into little pieces of single, wholehearted Tackling paperwork? Pay attention to ONE piece of paper at a time. Working on your business? Focus on ONE area at a time (do not try to write a blog post while shopping online for office supplies while trying to get listed on the local business chamber). The key is to engage in ONE thing, and only ONE thing at a time.
- Notice the thought faucet. Sometimes thoughts of what we should be doing and the tension of feeling pulled in many directions don’t disappear, and that is okay. You can notice the thought faucet, and carry on anyway with the task at hand. When you start focusing on one thing at a time, you may notice that the faucet slows down to a dribble and then a drip.
Remember (as I like to remind myself), that you are human and part of a huge collective that struggles in this way! Sometimes implementing a couple of strategies can streamline life and help you live in an increased state of wellness.
Until next time,
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