#WhatILearntThisWeek

Further to my last #WhatILearntThisWeek, I can be really hard on myself. I used to feel so bad when I’d give myself a deadline and then not meet it. I would sometimes even abandon a project because I had not finished it on time.

There are some things that absolutely positively have to get done on time… these non-negotiable deadlines are firm and real and we must do our best to meet them. I’m referring to things with real-world consequences like paying your mortgage on time.

However, some of us put a lot of pressure on ourselves to get EVERYTHING done ALL THE TIME. This is really unnecessary and can cause a lot of stress.

I do this. I try to be all things to as many people as I can. I have learnt recently that I can’t do this. It’s just not physically possible. I have to pick my battles and pick which tasks I need to get done today, this week or this month. I have decided to stop bullying myself into doing too much and I feel much better for it.

It would be nice to be able to get EVERYTHING on my to-do list done today and I’ll do my best, but if I don’t get to fold the clean clothes or make it to the post office before closing, that’s ok. I’ll get it done the next day.

Are you putting too much pressure on yourself? You might be stressing yourself out for no real reason. Try to remember you don’t always have to be on time… give yourself a break… as long as you get shit done, eventually 😛