The Story
There’s just so much to do in a day and (seemingly) too little time to get it all done. I assume if you’re reading this, you’re an adult. I can also assume that by this point you have likely experienced what some of us call “adulting”. I personally define “adulting” as the action in which you suck it up, ignore your feelings, and get it done. I think most would agree that’s a pretty accurate definition. We all have to do it.
*Que*- Adulting by Jonathan McReynolds, Mali Music
So what happens on those days when you’ve put on your big girl pants, you’re hardcore adulting, knocking those annoying tasks off your list but you keep hitting setbacks?
To gather myself, I went to a quiet space to stuff my face with sour patch kids. (I know. I don’t always make good choices when I’m frustrated.) In this moment I’m telling the Lord, “Lord, there’s so many things I feel I need to get done every day. When I try to do it all, I hit wall after wall. How do I avoid this frustration?!”
Here are 3 things that conversation with the Lord helped me land on. If you’re over “adulting” for adulting sake and find yourself not making real progress, these 3 thoughts might help!
1. Take breaks. Frequent breaks!
For one, breaks are absolutely necessary. When you’re focusing on something, your brain will eventually wander off. It’s natural.
Planning breaks gives your brain something to look forward to.
Your thoughts are less likely to wander when you know there’s allotted time for you to do just that– daydream or whatever else!
2. Don’t fill your breaks with more work.
It’s so tempting!
Part of my boiling over in my story was the fact that I wasn’t replenishing the spent energy used during my working sessions.
Instead, I was trying to multitask during my break. (No surprise there!)
For some of my foodie friends, grocery shopping is a joy, not the case for me so I shouldn’t grocery shop during my breaks because it empties my tank rather than filling it.
If you’re going to do something during your break, do something that recharges you.
3. Reward Yourself.
Remember when school teachers would reward your class with a pizza party if the class read a certain amount of books by a certain date? Remember how motivated you were to read and meet those benchmarks, whether you enjoyed what you were reading or not?
Guess what? You’re still that kid.
Our human need for a reward system doesn’t disappear in adulthood. Make a list of what you may consider small rewards (ex. Social media time, watching your favorite show, working on a hobby) and more significant rewards (ex. Going to the nail salon, going on a trip, etc.).
Consider focusing on doing those small rewards during your breaks and planning for big rewards when you’ve accomplished your set goals.
If you’re looking for more encouragement, check out my blog post, Cluttered Mind? | Make Some Space
