You've all heard the old saying, "slow and steady wins the race". Often I think that there is more truth to it than I like to admit. I tend to race ahead and chafe at the bit. In high school I was always reading ahead, looking ahead and thinking ahead with my work. Sewing often frustrates me because of how long the process can take from marking a pattern to finishing a garment. I can't remember the last time that it took me longer than a week to finish a novel - usually it takes me less than a day. In my worklife I tend push hard & take on more projects than is practical because I can't stand leaving them for someone else. Sometimes I find it hard to sit through the entire length of a movie without looking up the ending on Wikipedia. I'm known for trying to make it through difficult exercise sessions when I'm sick, working on complex projects when I'm so tired I can't concentrate and having trouble asking for help or a break.
Being a compulsive "pusher", and suffering from depression are two things that don't really mix. It is literally impossible to do both of them at once. Something has to give. I've learnt that sometimes it pays to go slow. Sometimes stopping to catch your breath can be the difference between burning out & powering through to the end. Deep, slow breaths do wonders for making you less anxious. Doing one thing at a time can be the difference between getting everything done, and getting nothing done. Sleep is never wasteful - in fact, it is impossible to function properly without enough of it. When you feel like you're treading water and going nowhere it's ok to ask for someone else to share the load. It can actually be fun to sit back & relax, and leave worrying about how things are going to turn out to someone else.
Taking care of your mental health is just as important as taking care of your physical health. No human can push themselves on, and on without mental & physical rest. If you feel like you are doing too much, then do a bit less for a while. Chances are that some of the things you feel need to be done right now, really don't. Chances are that some of those things aren't even very important. Sometimes I feel like I have to be everywhere at once and I have to do everything at once. Perhaps you feel that way sometimes too. The fact is, I don't and you don't. There's nothing wrong with taking your time. Slow it down, chill out, have a rest - both your mind & body will thank you for it.
Being a compulsive "pusher", and suffering from depression are two things that don't really mix. It is literally impossible to do both of them at once. Something has to give. I've learnt that sometimes it pays to go slow. Sometimes stopping to catch your breath can be the difference between burning out & powering through to the end. Deep, slow breaths do wonders for making you less anxious. Doing one thing at a time can be the difference between getting everything done, and getting nothing done. Sleep is never wasteful - in fact, it is impossible to function properly without enough of it. When you feel like you're treading water and going nowhere it's ok to ask for someone else to share the load. It can actually be fun to sit back & relax, and leave worrying about how things are going to turn out to someone else.
Taking care of your mental health is just as important as taking care of your physical health. No human can push themselves on, and on without mental & physical rest. If you feel like you are doing too much, then do a bit less for a while. Chances are that some of the things you feel need to be done right now, really don't. Chances are that some of those things aren't even very important. Sometimes I feel like I have to be everywhere at once and I have to do everything at once. Perhaps you feel that way sometimes too. The fact is, I don't and you don't. There's nothing wrong with taking your time. Slow it down, chill out, have a rest - both your mind & body will thank you for it.
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