Sometimes the Best Thing You Can Do for Yourself Is Nothing
You know that feeling of overwhelm? Of having so much to do that you don’t know where to start?
That “there’s-too-much-to-do-and-not-enough-time-to-do-it-in-and-I-have-to-do-more-be-more-say-more-earn-more-play-more-love-more-laugh-more-exercise-more-lose-more-weight-eat-fewer-carbs-and-still-be-happy” kind of feeling? That “stop the world, I want to get off!!!” kind of feeling?
We all get that feeling from time to time. And our instinctive response when we have too much to do and not enough time to do it in is usually to try harder to be more effective and get things done.
Until we can’t do anything.
Until we are so tired and stressed and strung out and freaked out that we hit a wall and have to stop.
And only then can we rest and regroup.
And only then do we start making healthy choices that allow us to be efficient and effective.
We don’t always (or ever) make the best choices when we are in a panic-driven, exhaustion-fuelled state of mind and body, and we often don’t give ourselves the time and space that we need to make better choices.
Next time you are feeling over-worked, over-committed and overwhelmed, take some time to stop. To breathe. To come back to yourself.
It is very important to be proactive about creating the conditions that support you and your journey through life. Because if you keep having to hit a wall before you can allow yourself to stop, those walls are going to get higher and harder until you arrive at the Great Wall of Burnout. And that is really not a fun place to be.
If it is at all possible I recommend that you set aside time every day to do nothing. To just be with yourself and in yourself. To make a space in your outer world that supports a space in your inner world. To make a space that allows you to remember who you are and what is important to you.
Because when you have done enough of nothing, you’ll be able to do everything that much better.
Feeling overwhelmed in your life, work or relationships?
- Purchase one of my self-study online courses.
Tags: ask for help | be happy | burnout | burnout recovery | do nothing | energy | look after yourself | others-centred. | resilience | rest
- “I have seen various psychologists and therapists but none of them have the skill of Judy in being able to relate to me and the way I think about things.”
- “Judy, you have given me the tools to change and move my life in directions I never knew possible. I am truly grateful for your help.”
- “Perception is everything and working with Judy has helped me realise my true potential by changing my outlook of life into more positive ones. I enjoy walking out of a life coaching session feeling like I am in control again, less stressed and more energetic.”
- “Judy is my go-to person when I find myself uncertain about how to interpret the signposts in my life. Her insights and ability to draw out what lies deepest inside have helped provide clarity and integrity at pivotal life moments over many years.”
- “I’d recommend Judy to anyone who’s feeling stuck, weary, confused, discouraged, uncertain, in need of support – basically, I’d recommend her to any carbon-based life form that breathes oxygen and would like to have a wonderful life.”
As seen on and in
