(Image via vlad on Flickr)
These holidays I’m republishing some old posts that newer readers might have missed first time around. Enjoy!
You know what’s crazy? Twenty-something life. I don’t know how people with families do it. I have had this massive running to-do list since changing jobs, and unfortunately, am relying on T to help cross off a lot of those things. Let’s just say that is making progress verrrrrrrrry slow. It’s really frustrating me at the moment, and while I know I’m letting it get to me more than it should, I JUST WANT IT ALL OFF MY PLATE.
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Sometimes it seems like everybody else has their life so much more together than I do. Full social calendars. Great flatmates. Great wardrobes. Great fitness levels. But look a little closer and it’s clear – as I already know – that you can’t give 100 percent to to your work, to your relationship, to your friendships, to your fitness, to your finances, to your hobbies and to your diet every single day. Those priorities have to shift from day to day and focusing too hard on one area for too long isn’t sustainable.
I think I’m in the minority in that I act kind of older than I am, because I’ve been on my own since 17 and quite honestly, I just want a calm, quiet life. Especially when you’re female. I was recently talking to someone (male) who happily admitted to not having a lot of close friends, and didn’t sound especially sad about it – while I feel the same way, I feel like I should almost be ashamed that I’m not going out every night of the week. Being around people generally drains me, and when things aren’t going well, I tend to retreat and would rather be left alone than talk to anybody.
For me, three things are key to preserving my sanity:
Sleep. Self-explanatory. I’m sure I could be much productive if I was the kind who could get by on 5 hours a night, but you can’t fight nature. Likewise, I’m never going to be a morning person, so I work to my strengths.
Me time, aka downtime. Where I don’t have to be around people – and plenty of it. Where I can play guitar, read, blog, watch movies, clean the house.
Food. One of the quickest things to go down the drain is often home cooking. But it makes me really unhappy if I can’t come home at a decent hour to make and eat a proper dinner. For me, making time to cook from scratch, bake delicious treats, and savour the eating process is non-negotiable. I’m also planning to do more cooking in bulk: that means fewer dishes during the week and gives us leeway on later zombie nights.
How do you deal when life gets overwhelming?
