The past few weeks have
been rough. If my life were a day planner (which it so often appears to be)
every 30-minute slot would be filled.
We are encouraged to say
yes to any and all opportunities in the hopes of living a more exciting,
verdant life. I have lived this “yes” mentality for the past seven months. It
is exhausting.
That’s exactly what I
got—exhaustion.
As the pressure mounted, I
caught a cold, felt increasingly overwhelmed at work and at home, began to
resent any and everyone, developed a short fuse with any and everyone and
stopped laughing.
It’s taken a few days, but
here’s what I did and what I learned to help me combat the American lifestyle
of so much work, little play and a lot of ‘yes’:
1.
Learn to
say “no.” – This was a difficult
one for me. I am a perfectionist with a big heart. It’s hard for me to not help other people. Saying “no” to
others is often saying, “yes” to yourself.
2.
Talk to
your boss. – I’ve just started
viewing my boss as a person. That sounds terrible, but so often we place our
bosses on pedestals because of their management position. They’re humans, too,
and have probably felt just as overwhelmed, emotional and upset as you.
3.
Go for a run. – Studies show that
moving helps alleviate stress. It also helped me boost my confidence, which
began to erode when I realized I couldn’t do it all…
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