Are you one of those people who always has something on your to-do list? Maybe it’s not something terribly creative, but you make a pact with yourself that every day you’re going to keep your house clean, exercise, do crafts with your kids, and maybe even do a little something for yourself, like read a book or keep a mindfulness journal or actually go to your freaking yoga class.
I like to say that you CAN do everything. Just not all at once.
Maybe you have big goals. Maybe you have a lot of goals. Maybe both.
An you probably read a lot of articles online about either how women can and should do it all, or about how we can’t do it all, so we should stop trying. Well, I believe both are kind of right and kind of wrong.
When you get an idea or set a goal, it’s easy to want instant gratification. But shit takes time. Rome wasn’t built in a day. You know how it goes. And what do you typically do? You start toward your goal, you get sidetracked/overwhelmed/bored/redirected. And then you start toward a new goal. And then you remember your old goal. And then you realize you just can’t do it all, you throw your hands up, and you give up completely.
Here’s something that’s really important to remember: It’s not all or nothing.
Trust me, I am the very person who needs to hear that advice over and over. I struggle with balance, because I usually feel like I’m either on or I’m off. I’m hardly ever in between. But I feel like I would flow very nicely as a balanced person, dancing freely between the all and the nothing. And when I do, everything still gets done. And some things still don’t get done. But the flow is the important part.
Here’s something else to remember: “Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.”
That little piece of genius didn’t arise from my own brainpower. It’s a quote by Lao Tzu, the founder of Taoism.
It’s really powerful.
Sure, nature could have done things faster. But when you look back, isn’t it crazy how MUCH nature has accomplished? And you can see that every step was necessary to get to the next one. You can’t force a flower to bloom without encouraging it to sprout and grow first. And it’s going to go just as fast as it is supposed to. And, even if you do absolutely nothing, your entire garden will be taken over within a matter of a few years.
So shit’s gonna happen. Yes, you will be more productive if you remain motivated and focused, but being productive and focused will still not make everything happen all at once. And you don’t need it to.
Want to take things a little more slowly and get everything done, just not all at once?
Check out my FREE program, the Find More Time in 7 Days e-course.
In this course, you’ll:
- Break through some of the barriers to getting shit done
- Find more time (and learn how to use it more productively)
- Organize your overwhelmed brain
- Find a way out of the lost maze you’re in
And it’s designed for busy moms, so it’s not going to ask you to add MORE ANNOYING SHIT to your day. (Not much, anyway).
If it’s not for you, maybe you know someone who could use it. Share it with her… she will be psyched that you did.
Thanks for reminding me of this. I feel like I have to do enough for an army! It seems never ending and I feel like you. I’m either on it or not!
You’re welcome 🙂
I get overwhelmed at least 10 times a day. I am defintely one of those people that throw their hands up in the air and give up but I have stuck to my current project for the longest I ever have. I want to succeed and I know it will take time and work so I just keep plugging along.
It’s always amazing when you plug along and then look back and realize how much you’ve accomplished even in the face of overwhelm. Good for you!
It’s all or nothing! That’s my motto! <3
You’re a sprinter 🙂
I needed to read this. Thank you!
Thank you for reading, Sara!
Omg girl! I feel like you are a blog sister! If that’s a thing…lol. I completely related to this. It is so hard to remember that I am doing just fine, even if it means I don’t get every single thing ticked off my to-do list every day. It’s been a learning process to just be in the moment and enjoy life and not le life’s tasks take over my life. Thank you!
Girl! Yes, blog sisters are totally a thing. cheers to that!!
Ecclesiastes 3:1 There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens…(NIV) Sometimes we just have to remind ourselves to slow down and enjoy life in the process.
And now I’m singing: “To everything, turn… turn… turn…”
I adore that Lao Tzu quote. I can’t believe I haven’t heard it before! Thank you for sharing.
Thanks for reading! Yes, that quote instantly relaxes me and helps me put everything into perspective.
Wonderful insight! I know as my children got older I thought my days would slow down but not even close. I get overwhelmed pretty often and when I do I shut down. (never good). I signed up for course thanks for the help.
Awesome! I hope it helps you!
I LOVE this quote! What a great reminder to take your time and do things right. Sometimes we are a jack of all trades, but a master of none.
Totally! Thank you for reading and for your insightful words.
Hi Gaby,
I hear you! I get so passionate about work, crafts or anything in life that I have this mentality “all or nothing”. I don’t like standing somewhere in the middle because I feel that I don’t have my priorities straight.
Then I have to realize what you said “Rome was not built in one day”. I can still be passionate and be balanced. Thank you for the great reminder. Your post is absolutely amazing!
Zaria