take a pause
I took most of last week off since it was officially Spring Break. My kids didn't have "school" and I knew it would be a challenge to keep them entertained and busy if I was working. I felt a little guilty because I really didn't have a good excuse NOT to work, and I love what I do so it doesn't feel like WORK work if you know what I mean.
But in hindsight that pause was exactly what I needed.
I was pleasantly surprised to start this week feeling re-energized and much more positive than I have in a long time! Just that change in routine and having time to think about what's working and not working for me has been incredibly helpful. I felt like I was climbing a mountain every day and didn't have time to stand on the top to see things from a broader perspective!
Here’s my list of what is working well both professionally and personally:
Regular exercise routine
Zoom calls with friends
My meditation class
My work hours are more flexible and I can better serve my clients
Even though my business has slowed down a bit, I am finally able to take the LinkedIn certification class I’ve been eyeing for months and I love it
My Quarantine tips seem to really resonate with folks and I’m getting comfortable on video and Instagram (a biggie for me!)
What's not working for me:
Going to bed too late and sleeping in, making me feel like I’m playing catch-up all day
Watching too much TV and not reading as much as I’d like (though it's been fun…thank you Tiger King!)
My disorderly paperwork- is that new filing cabinet going to fill itself?
Unhealthy habits- too much wine, chocolate and bread making me feel gross
Quarantine tips- coming up with one each weekday was a bit stressful
What is working and not working for you?
I know it’s tempting to jump right into what is NOT working, but I actually suggest you start with what IS working. Celebrate all of the things that you’re doing well before you start thinking about the negatives. This is an incredibly hard time and I encourage you to be gentle on yourself.
Go one by one and figure out which of your complaints are the most important to you. If you were to change them, these would have the biggest positive impact on your life. Then come up with solutions.
My solutions:
Going to sleep earlier will not only allow me to read in bed but will also allow me to get up easier in the morning and get a head start on the day ahead
Quarantine tips- will do weekly instead of daily
Food and drink intake- I told my husband to stop making this damn delicious bread every other day, and I’m going back to intermittent fasting. (I’m not ready to change my wine and chocolate habit right now though…that Easter candy wasn’t cheap!)
Think about what you can change that would make the biggest positive difference for you, and set small achievable goals to improve them. You do not need to fix EVERYTHING at once. For me the filing cabinet can wait. I’m sure it will feel good once I’ve organized my files, but it’s just not a top priority right now.
One of my clients has a lot of extra time on her hands while she is between jobs. She felt like she wasn't using it to her advantage in her job search. She felt trapped because her husband’s work is very demanding and she is 100% responsible for the homeschooling and everything else home-related. We talked about continuing education classes she could take in the evenings which would better position her for the job she wants in the future. After some research, she was thrilled to discover that a design software class she's been wanting to take for a long time but wasn't able to because it is only offered in another state, is actually offered online now. This would never have been possible pre-pandemic!
What surprising opportunities might be out there for you if you do a little digging?
It’s a long road ahead, but together we will get through it.
Let me know what solutions you came up with to make your life work better for you!