Isn’t it great when we have those days when we feel like a superhero?! We have managed to get everything done we needed to do. Bills paid- yes! Work done- yes! Errands ran-yes! Worked out-yes! House cleaned-yes! These days are the best aren’t they?
Unfortunately, most days aren’t like this. Our lives are hectic and our to-do’s pile up. We end up feeling overwhelmed and worn out and a lot less like Superman. We are tired, irritable and feel like we are barely keeping up. All we want to do is just collapse and do nothing. Sound familiar?
Well, guess what; this is normal. Even though we have those days when we feel like we are actually a superhero, we need to remember that we aren’t. No one on this planet is. Superheros don’t exist.
Far too often, we get caught up in the “I can do it all” trap and we take on too many responsibilities. I used to actually tell people that I could do it all. When I reflect back on what my life was like a few years ago, I shake my head at the insanity of it all. I was barely sleeping more than 3-4 hours a night; I was in school full time as well as working full time; I was training for a marathon and still managed to find time to party with my friends and see my family. Now I have a hard time getting through an 8 hour work day some weeks.
You see, I feel into the trap of feeling like I was nothing if I wasn’t a superhero. I actually thought that I wasn’t a good person if I wasn’t able to keep up with all of these activities. I thought that the only way I could make people that mattered happy was by showing that I had no limits. Eventually I paid the price for this. I was spreading myself too thin and eventually collapsed. I wasn’t able to keep up with what I had going on. I was exhausted. I struggled to fulfill the commitments I had at this time and somehow pulled them off, but boy did I pay a price. I had to take some serious time off from anything other than the necessities to recoup mentally, emotionally, and physically.
Now, a few years later, I live a much more balanced life. I have come to realize that no one is a superhero and we all have our limits. No one can be everything to everyone all of the time. Now I do the best I can to keep up with my priorities but when I have a day where I just don’t have the pep in me to get things done or talk with someone, I take a break. I invest in myself by resting and recouping and taking some me time. This investment pays off because after an evening or two or a week or two of rest, I am able to get back to my activities and responsibilities full of vigor and vitality.
I am sharing this story with you today so that you can take comfort in the fact that no one is expecting you to be a superhero and to stop trying to be one. Remember, superheros don’t exist. Just do your best to be a super person- one who is productive, unproductive, or somewhere in between. Be the ideal balance for your life. Find out what your max is and function at 85% of this. Doing this will not only keep you strong and healthy, but it will make you much more productive at reaching your goals and existing in true happiness.
So, have you tried to be a superhero before? What is your story? Or, how have you been able to find balance in your life?
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What a perfect post for me to read today, thank you for sharing.
It is so hard to have the facade of trying to keep it all together and accomplish everything. You are right, some days, you really can do it. Other days, you gotta give yourself a break.
@ Everyday Tips I am glad you found some encouragement. It’s true, we need to cut ourself some slack some days and realize we are allowed to be human. It’s OK!
I’ll admit I’m human, but sometimes I think I can do it all too. Then I realize I need to take a break and not over-commit myself. Thanks for reminding me!
@ Little House You’re welcome. I need the same reminders myself. Some days I think I just have too many interests and that I should just be more boring. lol.
This is so very true! It seems like I am always trying to do it all and I have to remind myself that it is ok to let some things go undone. However, I hate having to catch up on those things later because most of the things I let slip do have to be done eventually.
I agree with your blog 100%. As adults/parents/professionals we think and try to be everywhere at once and have everything done. It’s great to read this as it is a reminder to sit back and relax. I find myself spending a lot of time trying to reach my daily/weekly goals that I set, but when I sit back and look at it all, I don’t have a goal set that is for ME or my family. Although I do make the time to spend time with my loved ones, it is something that I rarely PLAN; but you better believe I PLAN on getting my work done, making it to the meeting, etc.
I’m finding it hard to balance my work, family and social life. I also find it hard to separate the three and somewhere in between find a moment for myself. That is the hardest and toughest task for me to complete but am working on it. Thanks Miss T.
@ Dino We all fall behind sometimes. Believe me, I don’t always spend the time with family and friends like I should either but I do make it a priority. In this day and age it seems everyone is struggling with trying to find a work/life balance. One of the things I have found to be helpful is to flip the pyramid. For years and years we have often had work as our number one, home and family as our number 2, and self as our number 3. When you flip that pyramid, you put yourself as number 1, your home and family as number 2, and work as number 3. I find that by putting yourself first, and reflecting on what you need and want to do, you make more honest decisions and in turn are more happier all around. We also are able to separate ourselves from work and realize that work is something we do to make ends meet and that it doesn’t define all of who we are. If we spend our energy on activities that define who we are and what we want to be, then our overall satisfaction and balance increases, and our stress decreases.
Keep working on what you are doing and don’t give up. Finding balance takes time and trial and error. Wishing you the best of luck.
what a great post! I’ve been feeling that way, a bit overwhelmed, on my days off. I have too much on my “to do” list and think I can bite off more than I can chew on those days.
Life is all about balance, need to remind ourselves that.
@ Young and Thrifty Very true. I think I was inspired to write that post because I have been feeling the same way. Our ambitions can get the best of us sometimes so we need to keep them in check.
What a perfect post for me to read today, thank you for sharing.
It is so hard to have the facade of trying to keep it all together and accomplish everything. You are right, some days, you really can do it. Other days, you gotta give yourself a break.
@ Everyday Tips I am glad you found some encouragement. It’s true, we need to cut ourself some slack some days and realize we are allowed to be human. It’s OK!
I’ll admit I’m human, but sometimes I think I can do it all too. Then I realize I need to take a break and not over-commit myself. Thanks for reminding me!
@ Little House You’re welcome. I need the same reminders myself. Some days I think I just have too many interests and that I should just be more boring. lol.
This is so very true! It seems like I am always trying to do it all and I have to remind myself that it is ok to let some things go undone. However, I hate having to catch up on those things later because most of the things I let slip do have to be done eventually.
Some day I’ll simplify my life . . . someday!
@ Saving Mentor I have had that happen to me to. Now I try to only push the non-essentials. It helps making that break possible.
I agree with your blog 100%. As adults/parents/professionals we think and try to be everywhere at once and have everything done. It’s great to read this as it is a reminder to sit back and relax. I find myself spending a lot of time trying to reach my daily/weekly goals that I set, but when I sit back and look at it all, I don’t have a goal set that is for ME or my family. Although I do make the time to spend time with my loved ones, it is something that I rarely PLAN; but you better believe I PLAN on getting my work done, making it to the meeting, etc.
I’m finding it hard to balance my work, family and social life. I also find it hard to separate the three and somewhere in between find a moment for myself. That is the hardest and toughest task for me to complete but am working on it. Thanks Miss T.
@ Dino We all fall behind sometimes. Believe me, I don’t always spend the time with family and friends like I should either but I do make it a priority. In this day and age it seems everyone is struggling with trying to find a work/life balance. One of the things I have found to be helpful is to flip the pyramid. For years and years we have often had work as our number one, home and family as our number 2, and self as our number 3. When you flip that pyramid, you put yourself as number 1, your home and family as number 2, and work as number 3. I find that by putting yourself first, and reflecting on what you need and want to do, you make more honest decisions and in turn are more happier all around. We also are able to separate ourselves from work and realize that work is something we do to make ends meet and that it doesn’t define all of who we are. If we spend our energy on activities that define who we are and what we want to be, then our overall satisfaction and balance increases, and our stress decreases.
Keep working on what you are doing and don’t give up. Finding balance takes time and trial and error. Wishing you the best of luck.
what a great post! I’ve been feeling that way, a bit overwhelmed, on my days off. I have too much on my “to do” list and think I can bite off more than I can chew on those days.
Life is all about balance, need to remind ourselves that.
@ Young and Thrifty Very true. I think I was inspired to write that post because I have been feeling the same way. Our ambitions can get the best of us sometimes so we need to keep them in check.