There is such a thing as working too hard—Take this weekend to be gentle with yourself and rethink your Fun/Play/Rest factor.
The most valuable thing we can do for the psyche, occasionally, is to let it rest, wander,
May Sarton
live in the changing light of a room, not try to be or do anything.
Overachieving Does Not Equal Value
I used to equate a busy schedule and a well-inked daily agenda with my worth. To me, over-achieving = value.
I was seduced by the idea that I could somehow validate my existence by outworking everyone else. I could burn through energy reserves and sustain myself with caffeine and cultural lies. At the end of the day, I could point to all the things crossed off lists and feel a sense of accomplishment.
That comfort was short-lived, though, and I’d wake the next morning to find a fresh batch of raw anxiety gurgling like lava in my stomach.
The ghost of “I’m not enough” shadowed me, continually reminding me where I was falling short. The only solution seemed to be to swat it away with more doing. More striving. More tired days. Distraction fueled by unhealthy habits and rituals.
Be Gentle With Yourself
If you recognize a part or all of yourself in this thrash of Hustle & Slay, and you are aching for change, I have an invitation: be gentle with yourself. Know that your brain will resist this advice, scoff. Even bully you. Ignore it.
Take a look at your planner/calendar, beginning with what you have scheduled for this weekend. What is on the page? Is it a bunch of chores, social obligations that fill you with some or a lot of dread, or a series of work-related tasks? Are there things listed that you believe you should be doing but have zero interest in?
If you were to quantify the Fun/Play/Rest Factor for the weekend, what kind of score would you give your plans?
If your weekend feels like an extension of your week, with simply different ways to work and embrace obligation, consider doing an experiment. Ask yourself: How can I not try to do or be anything this weekend? And instead, how can I simply rest, let my mind wander?
Where can you open the window on the stale room of busyness and let in a breeze of gentle joy?
Embrace Your Time for Rest
When I began gifting myself longer and longer stretches of nondoing/striving, something shifted. I discovered the world didn’t fall apart when I didn’t carry it 24/7. You will find the same is true for you, too.
In the spaciousness, we enjoy a spring of new color, ideas, and connection. We remember what we love, and the world is verdant with fresh possibilities. It tastes like freedom.
