Do you ever feel like your life is speeding by, then every time you start to get the hang of things, the game changes and you are left spinning out of control?

If you said no, I envy you. You have your shit straight and know how to prioritize. You have no reason to read on unless it is for shear entertainment.

If you said yes, I get you. It’s all about momentum and how sometimes we have to slow ourselves down to stay on track. I have been finding myself in this situation quite a bit lately. I have had opportunity after opportunity. Lots of big, exciting, time consuming, opportunities. I don’t feel like I am making any progress at all unless I am doing at least 3 things at once. This is a very dangerous mentality. Unfortunately, it is also a mentality that is far too common.

Why is this dangerous?

Well, while I am scurrying around like a squirrel trying to find the hidden nuts, strewn about the yard, trying accomplish everything I can, packing 3 days of work into one, when am I living?    How am I taking care of myself?

Continuing down this path, at such a fast pace, only one thing is guaranteed: BURNOUT

I am an overachiever, I always have been, I always will be. If I have a superstar day, and instead of appreciating it, it becomes the new expected “norm”. I have to actively remove myself from my life on a daily basis to stay out of my own way because I do get such nasty cases of “tunnel vision”. These cases, if left unnurtured, will pass and 2 weeks from now won’t be more than an afterthought. But if I do feed this drive, it can grow into a full blown obsession.

Here are 5 Ways I Recenter and Find Balance:

1. Meditation:
   I know I beat this like a dead horse, but for me, meditation is not a choice, it is a necessity.    If you don’t know how to meditate, start with just observing your breath.   Feeling the sensations, the rhythm, your body.   Do this for 3-5 minutes for starters.  Seriously though, I don’t care how you do it, I don’t care where you do it.   For the sanity of yourself and those around you, just do it.   Even a minute a day can make a difference!
2. Learn to say “No”: I like to make other people happy, scratch that I NEED to make other people happy.   This is absolutely futile.   Do not pass go, do not collect $200.    I can not make anyone other than myself happy.   The best way to be able to spread happiness and joy is through meeting our own needs and taking care of ourself so we are happy.   Happiness is contagious.   Again, saying yes to everyone to the point where you hate your life and resent everyone that you are “trying” to make happy, will serve absolutely no purpose other than wearing down your sanity and spreading not-so-happy vibes.
3. Make a list of 5 things you need to do on a regular basis to be okay: There are certain things that seem pretty minuscule that I need to do on a daily basis to maintain my well-being.   They are things that can very easily be thrown to the wayside when life gets hectic.   I am sure if you take some time you can find some of your own.   I need to (and yes, when life gets hella hectic, I will forgo this) wash my face and brush my teeth TWICE daily, I need to spend time with my girl-friends at least once a week, I need to get some form of physical activity AT LEAST 4 times a week, I need to meditate daily, and I need to tan for at least 3 minutes 3 times a week (or I get S.A.D.).    Heck, I’ll even throw in a 6th!   I have to make sure I don’t shower any less than every other day. I wasn’t kidding when I said I can get some serious tunnel vision!
4. Do something to treat yourself: There is something to be said for taking some time to do something for yourself just to do something for yourself.   My rules are that whatever my treat is cannot benefit me in any way other than to treat myself. I can’t manipulate it into some crap like “I’m treating myself to peace of mind of having my blog done for the week.” or “I’m treating myself to be able to buy something by working for an extra hour.” NOPE! Not going to fly.   It has to be something I generally won’t do, like paint my toenails, or even my fingernails. It’s completely out of the norm for me and I don’t feel like it is something I am pressured to do anyways. It’s something special.

   5 ways to recenter and find balance in your life @ashliepappas

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5. Ask someone how they are AND LISTEN: Want some perspective in your own life?  Ask someone else about theirs!   I can be super self-involved at times, especially when suffering from tunnel vision. When I show interest in someone else, it helps me see that there is an entire world outside of the little tunnel that I have been hiding out in. We are emotionally attached to our own lives. Sometimes when we see the situations in others, it can provide a broader perspective on what we are really doing. A lot of the things that I get so wrapped up in won’t even matter a month later. They just burn up energy and brain power unnecessarily.    Sometimes stepping away can clear our vision to what is really important. A year from now, I am going to care about how much affection and time that’s provided to my family. Whether or not I work an extra hour or get that second page finished on my website, not so much.

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Keep in mind, if you are breathing, have somewhere warm to sleep, food to eat, and people who you care about; you are a-ok.   Everything else is just gravy! Like this post?  Share it! Comments?  Share them!