Stress and Work/Life Balance

From the outside, you’re keeping on top of everything…

The day usually starts with a race – are the kids dressed, hair combed, teeth brushed? Why do you have to remind them every… single… day…? Why has nobody fed and peed the dog? Your turn again.

After taking care of everybody else, you get yourself ready for work and shuffle everyone out the door for drop-offs. By the time you pull into the office parking lot, you feel like you’ve already run a 10K race. Except you don’t have time to get the benefits of exercise, you have a jam-packed eight-hour day in front of you while you try to remember to make a chiropractic appointment because, ouch, your back is killing you. You can’t ignore the pain any longer.

You used to love your work – it was so satisfying. Connecting with colleagues, using your brain in exciting and creative ways. Seeing the progress and change that you helped happen. It’s hard to admit, but you can’t remember the last time it was satisfying – it’s a paycheck. But also another energy suck.

By the time you get home, it’s the evening version of the morning scramble.

“What’s for dinner, Mom?” You HATE that question! You and your partner try to coordinate logistics while the dog barks (nobody fed him again?!), the kids interrupt with questions, and your phone keeps vibrating. There was a time when making dinner together was about connection, even a spark of romance, not just coordination and frustration. Lunch prep, clean-up, baths, bedtime, and oh yeah, don’t forget to pee the dog before bed, too. You get it all done. You always do…

But on the inside… you’re stressed out and overwhelmed.

You’re juggling a bunch of bowling pins, and you’re terrified of which one you’ll drop next.

It’s exhausting. You’re worrying all the time, what appointment did you miss? Is today a half-day or a whole day at school? It has you on edge, irritable, and restless all the time.

It’s wreaking havoc on your body, mind, and soul. You feel it all as you burn out: weight gain, depression, sleeplessness, anxiety, and irritability.

You probably can’t even remember the last time you felt okay.

And if one more commercial, podcast, or well-meaning family member reminds you to “take care of yourself,” you might just lose it and fall into a crying puddle.

Who has time to take care of themselves?

Your needs matter.

Let me repeat it: YOUR NEEDS MATTER!

The cycle of anxiety and depression robs you of the ability to focus and the energy to know what your needs are anymore – the things that used to ‘fill your cup’ and make you feel happy and whole don’t have that effect anymore.

Nothing feels safe in this new world. You’re responsible for ensuring everyone is okay and protected, yet you have no idea how to do that. Every media outlet you can think of tells you what you should be like as a woman, partner, mom, and colleague. There’s so much information, expectations, and directions you don’t know what’s true and what’s not.

Here’s a novel idea: maybe you already know what you need. Your mind, body, and soul are just waiting to reveal it to you, so you can get that fulfillment, peace, and joy back.

You don’t have to figure out how to get back your joy…

That’s my job. Sometimes you have to have the right kind of guide to find the answers you need in life. Let me be your guide…

Providing you a safe place…

You’ll have the acceptance and compassion you need to let out the frustration, stress, shame, and guilt. You’ll make peace with that critical voice in your head and finally put it to rest. In this space, you’ll have an opportunity to breathe (I’ll watch the clock, you don’t have to) and rest (go ahead, put your feet up if you want to).

Putting your needs front and center…

You are the priority. Constantly being overwhelmed and living under chronic stress is a recipe for symptoms of anxiety, depression, difficulty sleeping, irritability and other mood swings, and a lower sense of self-worth. It may seem daunting to put yourself first for an hour, but I assure you that inside of you is a deep well of internal resources waiting to ease your journey.

Figuring out how to meet your needs…

It seems overwhelming, doesn’t it? Another question to answer, another puzzle to solve. It’s okay. We’ll make it easy. This is an opportunity to work together to determine what contributes to feeling overwhelmed, anxious, and depleted. We’ll also work together to discover what reduces these feelings. With gratitude, we will work to build and fan the flames of your happiness…

Transforming your anger and resentment…

… into positivity and contentment. With the negative self-talk, the worry of how others will feel, and the messages that you should be less and do more, why wouldn’t you be angry and resentful?

Challenging these expectations of yourself will help reduce the guilt and responsibility you feel. Letting go of perfectionism – it can be miraculous. Discovering and meeting your own needs sparks positive self-talk. Intentionally looking for the good in the day, in your life, refocuses the mind and lightens your spirit.

Creating healthy boundaries…

Is it serving you when work texts you throughout the evening? What about when the PTA asks you to be on another committee? There’s a time and place for everything, and it’s not all at once. Together, we’ll work to determine your values and what’s most important to you right now. We’ll work to see what activities and obligations fit with those values and find comfortable and clear ways to communicate and reinforce the boundaries you need in your life.

Getting your energy back…

A good night’s sleep. A well-managed schedule of commitments. A calendar that includes things for yourself. A well-earned knowledge of what your mind and body need to feel in balance. An opportunity to do things for others with a willing spirit. A sense of gratitude that this life is yours.

I’m excited for you. Let’s get started!

This is the moment where you do something for yourself.

It’s small, just a phone call, but it will lead to something big – help find the path back to yourself, meet your own needs, and experience joy and satisfaction in your life.

Call me at (971) 915-0195 for a free 20-minute phone consultation. Do it for you.