Happy Monday, or whatever Monday you choose.
Last week I wrote about running up physical and emotional debt. I started the week with one goal – get eight hours of sleep. It sounds simple but was next to impossible for me to accomplish. Monday, a canceled flight resulted in “Road Trip Quest.” My daughter was able to catch her flight, but I am uncertain if she will ever return because of all the fun she is having on her travels. I had something planned every night for the rest of the week. It is easy to write about getting rid of high-interest activities, but another thing to purge them from one’s life.
But, and there is always a but – if you are unable to do it, why should we bother? I did manage to get eight hours of sleep some nights. I also said “no” and canceled some weekend activities. People trying to quit smoking are not always successful in their first attempt, but the key is to set the intention and to work. My experience last week taught me not to overschedule myself when possible. This week’s calendar is relatively light. I will try again for my eight hours of sleep.
But, and there is always a but – if you are unable to do it, why should we bother? I did manage to get eight hours of sleep some nights. I also said “no” and canceled some weekend activities. People trying to quit smoking are not always successful in their first attempt, but the key is to set the intention and to work. My experience last week taught me not to overschedule myself when possible. This week’s calendar is relatively light. I will try again for my eight hours of sleep.
I led a beach meditation yesterday. One of our activities is to write something in the sand and let the water wash it away. I wrote down, “perfection.” I gained some insight from speaking with my best friend. She talked about the return on investment of some activities and to question why I wanted to pursue some of my choices. She pointed out that I push myself and ignore what my body tells me. I realized that some of the reason was pride. Okay, quite a bit of it is pride. I am very competitive and want to please everyone. That is a recipe for burnout.
What’s next? I am going to start small. Getting my eight hours of sleep will help me to prioritize what is essential. I am also going to accept and respect other people’s choices. If they say they do not need my help, I believe them and enjoy my rest. Why do you do what you do? What do you want to accomplish? Will you enjoy it? No matter what next week’s topic involves, I hope you all will hold me accountable until I reach six out of seven restful nights. You do not have to be perfect, but you do have to get started.
