So close, but it feels so far!
Confrontation and Transformation
Many of us have been hard at work for days, weeks or months with hectic schedules, project deadlines, and general busy-bodying to progress towards our goals. With the holidays coming up, semesters are about to end, breaks are about to begin and we’re starting to feel as though we’re ready to wind down but the year isn’t quite over yet. It may be starting to get harder and harder to push ourselves, to find the motivation and energy we had earlier to keep ourselves feeling and being productive: burn-out. This can be particularly frustrating, especially if we know we’re so incredibly close to seeing our hard work pay off.
When we’re feeling this way, it becomes easier to take that frustration out on ourselves and those around us. This can look like negative self-talk, irritability, guilty procrastination, or neglecting our most basic and important needs. If we find ourselves getting to the point where we’re doing more harm than good in the name of productivity, it may be time to confront this, be honest with ourselves and step away to nurture ourselves and see what we need in order to transform these feelings and behaviors. It can be as simple as taking a cozy shower, eating a whole meal, taking a good nap, whatever feels personal and allows us a moment of quiet, of peace.
These simple moments, which are often dismissed as an undeserved luxury or waste of time (I’m guilty of this), play an integral role in our productive lives. They allow us to give ourselves the space we need from our challenges to breathe, to re-assess our priorities and to come back with fresh perspectives and a clearer head. After days, weeks or months of doing, of problem solving and building, it can be surprising how a small withdraw from it all can steady us, get us back on our feet and get us across our finish lines.