The Secret to Working Longer, Stronger, and Happier
The secret to working longer, stronger and happier is so contrary to everything we have been taught that it might shock you.
Fact is, one of the greatest pitfalls to your success is…
the B.S. concept of PUSH THROUGH!
The best cell phone is nothing but an expensive paperweight without a nightly recharge. Our cars will breakdown if we don’t stop for gas and tune-ups yet we expect ourselves to produce day after day without proper renewal, not because we don’t know any better, but because most of us feel we don’t have a choice.
If you really want to be a badass, you’ve got to find a way to always be moving forward without breaking down.
In this piece, I’m going to teach you how to recognize when you “really” need a recharge and how to find time for it in a life that feels too full.
Rest Shaming is Real
The last thing we type-A overachievers need is some “inspirational” quote telling us that we aren’t working hard enough. That’s why I came up with this
Success is about hard work, truth! But if you are reading this, the hard work you have is finding time to rest and refuel. Please take the shame out of your breakdown, burnout game. I’m here to help.
5 Ways To Identify if You Really Need A Rest or You’re Just Being A BIG Baby
You find yourself apologizing all the time
Sorry, I’m late, sorry I have to leave early. Your day is packed, you’ve disappointed everyone and totally forgotten yourself.
Everything pisses you off
A traffic signal turns red and you are convinced it’s an omen that your entire day is going to be a sh*t show.
Your pain point starts acting up
My neck, my back, my p-…(don’t act like you don’t know that nasty song). I used to have a boss whose eye twitched uncontrollably when she was under stress.
Your friends and family are not enjoying your company
You hate everyone and they hate you too.
Your sleep is disrupted
You can’t sleep because a running worry list wakes you in the night. Tap, tap, tap, wake up and worry chica!
If three out of five of these statements is true, you better keep reading.
Surprise you’re sick!
Surprise you injured yourself!
Surprise you got into a huge fight with someone you love!
We think we’re getting away with burning the candle at both ends until a catastrophe happens. Stop these surprise attacks. Plan your rest and renewal.
I get it, it’s all easier said than done which is why I came up with…
3 of The Most Common Barriers to Self-care and How to Slay Them
Problem: We wait for permission
Solution: Inform ONLY
Do not expect people to make it easy on you or give you permission. Instead, politely inform. One of the easiest ways to do this is by creating ritual and routine. I know a woman who takes a nap at the same time every day no matter where she is. For you maybe it’s yoga Mondays or 9 pm bath time. If you commit to this, people, even your children, and spouse will begin to understand your boundaries and you will no longer have to defend them even to yourself.
Problem: We really, actually have too much to do
Solution: Expect Less of Yourself
When overwhelmed, our sense of priority is thrown out of whack. One of the best examples of this point is vacation syndrome. Have you ever felt the need to do something that has been outstanding for months the week before you leave for vacation? Stop using the way you feel to prioritize because sometimes our mind lies. I’ll be sharing a step-by-step guide on how to prioritize soon. Subscribe so you don’t miss out!
Problem: No one will help
Solution: Listen And Say Yes
How many times has someone offered to lend you a hand and your first thoughts go to all the things that could go wrong?
Next time you start looking for reasons to say no, remember the solution I’ve written below.
Problem: It’s easier to do things alone because everyone else messes up
Solution: Leave
When you leave, you empower people to find their own way which creates greater and more freedom for you. And yes, some things will not be done as well as you could, but other things will be done even better.
If you want to grow and win you must stop solving everyone else’s problems and stop protecting them from pain. Pain is a powerful teacher.
Remember: Every time you protect someone from the same lesson you had to learn the hard way, you are making yourself the only solution to the problem.
Don’t rob everyone else of their opportunity to grow.
Problem: You Aren’t “Ready”
Solution: Create a To-me List
Out of nowhere, forty-five minutes opens up in your schedule. The BIGGEST MISTAKE YOU CAN MAKE is to skip down to the next item on your to-do list because the to-do list will not die until you do.
INSTEAD
Create a To-Me. This is a list of self-renewal activities that you love none of which take more than 10-minutes to begin.
My favorites are:
Reading Fiction,
Meditation,
Painting my nails,
Braiding my hair,
Bike riding
The point is, it should be an activity that really has no other benefit than your own happiness. Want to get inspired, check out these ideas.
Problem: But Still I Can’t
Solution: Audiobooks
You will hear me push this one time and again because it saved my life. If you sign up for a free service like Audible you can still do something for yourself while caring for everyone and everything else.
As you can see, the secret to working longer, stronger and happier is not about doing more. In fact, finding time to rest will probably be the most challenging part of your success story, but it pays off huge. Solutions that were right in front of our eyes will become clear because your head is no longer spinning. People around you will appreciate you more because there is a smile on your face and you will get to enjoy the journey on the way to your final destination.