Feeling Stressed? Let Go of Trying to Do it All
Remember those goals you set back in January? The ones you gave yourself a year to complete. You’ve got a month left. There are also those other goals you’ve raised along the way and your original deadlines are starting to come into view for those, too. There are holiday gatherings – professional and social. There are concerts and pageants at the kids’ school and Great Aunt Mary’s 90th birthday party. There are plans to be made for next year.
If the year-end barrage of obligations and deadlines isn’t enough, your boss wants you to consider taking that class that will prepare you for the new position she thinks you’re perfect for. . . that position you’re not so sure you’re really interested in. Your side business is growing faster than you can keep up with, and if you’re being honest, it’s not bringing you a whole lot of joy anymore. Your clients, though, will be disappointed if you walk away from it.
People use words like jolly, merry, and happy to describe the season, and all you’re feeling is overwhelmed, tired, and confused. Hit the pause button for a moment and listen up. You need to hear this: Let go of trying to do it all. Do what sets your soul on fire.
Let Go of the Guilt
If your sole motivation of doing something is that you’re afraid you’ll disappoint someone else if you say no, let go of the guilt. If a goal, a task, or an activity no longer fits your business model of life, say no. Don’t just say no, say it with the confidence that you’re making a decision that’s best for you and the life you’re cultivating. To do this, however, you need to spend a little time figuring out what a life you’ll love looks like. It’s easy to be swept up in the tide of family expectations, career diversions, financial responsibilities, and personal insecurities to end up far adrift from where you’d originally planned. Carve out some time to get back in touch with your hopes and dreams and then reroute your destination to match!
You Can’t Do It All
People like to tell us that we can do it all. They’re wrong. Yes, we can pursue any goal we wish. We can learn, stretch, and grow in any direction we want. We can have a career. We can have a family. We can have hobbies. We just can’t give all those things 100% of us all at once. We are all heading somewhere on our own personal journey and not every doorway we encounter needs to be opened and entered. We need to make choices and find balance. (See the above point if you’re feeling guilty about it.)
Be Happy
There are going to be tasks you’ll take on that aren’t even going to make your soul spark, let alone ignite it on fire. Inventory night may not be high on your list of exciting ways to spend an evening, but it’s your job and it’s necessary. Being happy isn’t just about doing the things you want to do. It’s about approaching the things you need to do with a positive attitude.
Cataloging the inventory in your shop helps keep your small business humming along as it should and while you don’t love the task, you do love your business. Keep it in perspective. Tackle all you do with love and kindness. Cheer on those who are around you and cheer on yourself. Trust me on this one. A positive attitude is going to make a big difference even when your to-do list is longer than your “done” list.
