Last Thursday, I sat at a coffee shop in Des Moines, Iowa, across from Kelly Moore, a PR consultant and freelance writer.
, who also juggles kiddos and a husband. (In my opinion, this is just as hard as juggling flaming torches.) She described to me how she recently got home late from a meeting, paid the babysitter, folded some laundry, and then sat down on the coach–for 30 seconds.
Yep, in less than a minute she felt totally guilty that she was taking time for herself, even though the children were nestled in bed, her husband wasn’t home yet, and all of the day’s work was done. Her situation lead to this Q&A:
Q: I am someone who thrives on being productive, but lately I’ve been feeling burnt-out. How can I take time to rejuvenate myself without feeling restless or guilty?
A: I can completely understand this situation! As a classic achiever, I’ve struggled with perceiving rest as a dreadful chore. When I slowed down, all I could think about was everything I “should” be doing. Part of this dilemma is about changing your mindset. (In Thursday’s post, I’ll talk about being a human being versus a human doing.) But the other part is all about making the most of your strengths.
In Strengthsfinder 2.0, it defines the “Achiever” strength in this way:
“People who are especially talented in the Achiever theme have a great deal of stamina and work
hard. They take great satisfaction from being busy and productive.”
This is a fantastic quality, but can cause problems when you start shaking when you take a moment to sit still.
One strategy that helps me calm down without freaking out is making a “life to do” list. This means I write down activities that rejuvenate me, like taking a walk, spending time with friends, praying, or traveling, and I cross them off as I achieve them. I can make a relaxing Saturday feel ultraproductive when I complete everything on my list.
If you’re feeling burnt-out, I really encourage you to take time to make a to-do list for yourself that includes everything that makes you happy! Then schedule in time every day, week, or month, to complete these “tasks” that fill you up.
As Mel Robbins describes in her podcast “Create Your Ideal Week Using LEGOs,” there are a minimum number of things you need in life to be the best business owner, employee, parent, spouse, and person you can be. By putting those in first, you’ll have the energy and passion to approach the rest of life with gusto!
Be brilliant today!
Elizabeth
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