Health Activist Writer’s Month Challenge Day 8 #HAWMC
Day eight of the WEGO Health Activist Writer’s Month which I have signed up for – a month dedicated to the art of writing about health. Today’s prompt:
Best conversation I had this week. Try writing script-style (or with dialogue) today to recap an awesome conversation you had this week.
Friday night, I had a mini-meltdown…about time.
This week has been exceptionally busy as I prepare to officially launch my new business venture with my partner Lorna. I’ve also been writing for HealthWorks Collective on healthcare marketing, continuing with the #HAWMC challenge, keeping on top of other work related activities, and well, I could go on, but I shall stop there, as I can feel myself starting to hyperventilate again. But, you get the picture? There just doesn’t seem to be enough hours in the day to get everything done!
So, last night, as I tried in vain to make another deadline, I had the aforementioned mini meltdown. Poor husband bore the brunt of it, and when he said to me, well don’t do it if you don’t enjoy it, I replied, but I do enjoy it. I love writing, I love working in social media marketing, you know I do. To which he replied, well you don’t look much like you are enjoying it to me.
There is was. My aha! moment.
In that moment, I had a choice. I could choose to believe that there is not enough time, or I could choose to breathe, be still, be present to this moment, right here, right now.
The more I panicked as time appeared to be racing away from me, the less I was getting done. When I stopped, time appeared to magically stand still for me.
Until the next moment when my mind started racing again, and deadlines began to encroach on me.
But, now I know the secret to time. In the words of Albert Einstein
The only reason for time is so that everything doesn’t happen all at once.
The secret is to stop trying to do everything at once. Even while I am doing one task, my mind is already on the next task to be done. I need to remain present and trust that in this moment, I have all the time I need.
That isn’t going to be easy for me … alongside my perfectionism, I have issues around just letting go, letting things happen, without my controlling them. But, I’m learning, and most of all I’m learning that it’s ok to be imperfect, and that I can begin again in the next moment, with the next breath……
Over To You
How do you deal with feelings of stress or being overwhelmed when deadlines loom and tasks mount in your life? I’d love to hear some of the ways you have found to cope
When it gets to that level I take a few hours off and refuse to think of any of it. I go to a gorgeous cafe or beach or the like and just think of calmness. This could take a few hours and then when I’m ready go back home and talk through the whole thing with Tony. Having a second head on the stuff really helps, they only need to help with concepts not what’s involved, if you know what I mean. Once the plans are clear in my head again off I go again – until the next time! Hope that helps. Also I always want everything done yesterday so I also need to check the list of to dos to ensure I’m not putting unrealistic timelines on myself. If something can be done tomorrow and it eases pressure today and won’t disrupt tomorrow’s goals then I push it to the next day.
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I feel instantly calm, just reading your words Marian – great tips!
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Hi Marie, I’m glad, it happens to everyone, just need to have a few strategies to knock it on it’s head fast!
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Wow, the timing of this was uncanny–I’ve been thinking lately about how much you do and quite honestly wondering how you do it–I’m in awe. I follow Journeying Beyond Breast Cancer but I know you also do tons of stuff with health care and social media. You really seem to have stepped that up; you seem to be everywhere lately.
I loved your tips on how you cope by being present in the moment and focusing on one thing at a time (not easy in this hyper-connected age). I am going to try to remember that. You asked how other people cope–I’ve found that slamming out a half hour on the elliptical really helps me when I’m freaked out and stressed out. Nothing changes except I feel much calmer.
I have to share something about perfectionism too–I share that same curse–so much so that when I was a kid, I learned how to jump rope inside my home before I did it outside in front of people. How sad is that! Many years later, as an adult, I was talking to my great uncle up in North Dakota about what a nice view he had of a golf course–he said he would like to try it but he didn’t want people to see him!! Now I tell myself no one ever died of embarrassment.
Happy Easter to you!
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I am smiling at you learning to jump rope indoors.. you are one step up from me..I would never jump rope as I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to do it! Never thought of practising indoors..see how clever you were! Your story about your great uncle is so poignant…it’s something I will remember next time I am afraid to try something new. Thanks Jackie x
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How interesting that Yvonne choose the topic of “wait time” for her WEGO challenge blog post just yesterday! We all face that relentless character called time. I love the brilliant (as always) Einstein quote.
When stress raises its ugly head, I go for a run, and I run to the scriptures. It sounds counterproductive, because time is a’wastin’ when I do those things. But the time really ISN’T wasted. The fresh air to which I’m exposed and the exhilaration of my muscles working to move my body clear my mind. And I look to my daily devotional to see what I can learn from the psalms or proverbs to comfort my spirit. Then, I’m able to face the looming deadlines of tasks and such. I prioritize them and just start ticking them off my list as I go along. Sometimes I procrastinate, but I just have to tell myself that I’m letting someone down if I don’t make the deadline. Like you, I’m a perfectionist, so it’s hard to let go of a work before I think it’s perfect. But it must be done.
Thanks for your wonderful thought-provoking post! Now I’m off to church for Easter services before I’m late! xx
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And thank you for sharing your wonderful compassionate wisdom with us today Jan x
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Well now, I’m beginning to wonder if this might be some sort of basic condition that afflicts my countrywomen!! The perfectionism, the “disease to please” etc On the phone yesterday my mother said to me (because I was complaining about never enough time) that “when the man above made time, he made plenty of it.” And then my dad interjected with yet another story about someone who had once said to him, “Are you telling me that the man above short-timed you more than he did me?
You have to love the N.Irish colloquialisms!!!
Anyway, whole point of this is to say to you that I finally had a moment the other day when I realized that all the moments of my life are not of equal weight. Whether the clothes weren’t put away properly doesn’t deserve as much attention as listening to my daughter tell me, with great excitement, that she wants to be an ICU nurse when she grows up, inspired by the caring of those around me after my surgery. So this is my new way to deal with time as it drifts away. I’m also learning not to let certain people and issues “rent space in my head,” and so I evict them.🙂
On a gentler note, a former teacher used to say that he wouldn’t dwell on something. Instead, he would mentally tie it up in a balloon and let it fly away. Great visual.
Here’s to no more mini melt-downs.
xx
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Wonderful wisdom Yvonne…and though I’ve never met them..I can just hear your parents wry admonishment…yep, have heard that saying of your Mum’s too…. thanks for sharing your thoughts with us x
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Oh, goodness…I thought I was the only one with this struggle…:) I have found myself very frustrated lately with my inability to keep up with the blogging community, blogging, family and a work load from my day job that has increased 100-fold…that is until I heard these words the other day at the gym: If you were perfect, there would be no need for Christmas and Easter. Slowed me down and gave me permission to breath. My advice to you–hug your hubby, do what you can and know that we all love and support you!!
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Oh Kim, would you believe I was just thinking about you and wondering how you were…and how long it had been since we connected…and now here you are with words of wisdom and your gorgeous smile – that just made my day🙂
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