February Fail
Can you read the license plate? It reads: PLSBKND = Please be Kind.
Hello Friends:
How are you hanging in there? This past month I have felt scattered and unsettled. Even more so in the past few days, as I see evil play out in the world and wish for peace for all.
In each of these posts I try to show things in a positive and hopeful light. As I write to you today I want to do the same. And, at the same time, February 2022 didn't quite turn out the way I had hoped or expected.
You might recall that in last month's post, I introduced the idea of monthly themes for 2022. My January theme was "Catch Up, Clear Out". February's theme was supposed to be "Sell Out" as in finally getting around to selling things of value that we no longer need. February 1, 2022 was a success! I sold two pairs of little kid ice skates for $22 at Play It Again Sports. The funds went toward purchasing a larger pair of used skates for my oldest child.
I was on a roll with $22 cash in my pocket (at least for a short while). The next item on my list was a long outgrown train table in our basement. I had called my local resale shop and was going to load this up in my car when, BAM!, my kids had three consecutive snow days. I wasn't going anywhere, especially since my husband takes my vehicle on snowy days. His car doesn't do well in the snow. The snow days, along with a series of other events left me off track (pun intended). The train table is still in our basement today.
In the grand scheme of things, it's doesn't matter. And yet, all the disruptions to my usual routines left me feeling irratable and behind. I enjoy spaciousness in my life. Instead, I was feeling overwhelmed.
Overwhelmed. When clients call for help, this is the word I hear over and over again. I understand. I often feel overwhelmed myself. I want to do it all. I want to feel like things are in order. I also want and need a little breathing room, literally and figuratively. The truth is that I cannot do it all, but I can give myself some margin. I do this with an incredibly simple technique.
Every evening before getting ready for bed, I write down three things that I need to accomplish the following day. It's simple, but not easy. Even today, I have about six things, okay ten, that need to get done and I have to limit myself to three. This doesn't mean I only do three things and call it a day. It just means that I am prioritizing the three things that must get done first. Everything else becomes a bonus. The thought process behind this is more focus and less decision fatigue.
I don't always follow my plan of three things and when I do, I always get more done in less time. That feels good! And, it gives me a little breathing space in my full days.
Please share your tips for tackling overwhelm! I am sure you have some gems for all of us.
All my best,
Carolyn
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