You know how sometimes the stuff that really matters to you adds up to…too much stuff? There are only so many hours in the day and priorities can occasionally be in conflict. This seems to be especially true when we’re granted significant amounts of “free” time. We want to move forward with our big dreams, but it’s easy to get overwhelmed trying to pack everything in and, very often, we’re so burnt out by the day-to-day that free time feels like a call to rest and play.
A client of mine happens to be in education and is facing this exact conundrum this summer. How does she tackle the big chunks related to her deeper dreams that the academic year doesn’t allow for while honoring her deep need for fun? She expressed heightened anxiety related to this and so I offered her the following thoughts via email. You might find them useful, too.
See if you can release the outcome(s) at all. In other words, be responsible for putting in the effort to work toward your goals without being attached to whether or not they are reached.
Consider breaking down your goals into much smaller chunks so that they are manageable. Keep breaking down each goal/interest aread until it’s actually something you could check off a list in a day.
Experiment with creating a daily/weekly schedule. Perhaps Mondays and Fridays are play days. You can be flexible with it, but if it keeps you focused and keeps the anxiety at bay, it’s worth sticking with it.
Be willing to let some thing(s) go. Look at your list of goals/tasks and sit with it meditatively. Center in and ask your heart what experiences it is truly longing for. Only keep those items that naturally rise to the surface. If they all rise to the surface, ask your heart how you can honor those wishes.
As I wrapped up my email to this client, I added one final thought: Don’t forget that you can’t do life perfectly. You’ll always be experimenting and recalibrating and finding your way anew.
What measures do you put in place to keep moving forward with your dreams while practicing really solid self-care?
