Give yourself a break

How was your workload coming into the end of the financial year?

Mine was just crazy! The last three months leading into June 30th were insane. I either had bitten off more than I could chew, or I had to deal with an unexpected glut of work tasks. Probably a little of both...

As the months progressed, from April into May, and then June, the pressure built and the days seemed to become shorter, whilst the to-do-list seemed to grow longer. Phew! It hurts just remembering it...

Then a strange thing happened. About two weeks ago things went quiet. I kind of woke up one morning at the start of the second week of July and had time to breathe. My to-do-list looked manageable. Sure there were still many things to catch up on, there was work happening, but for a tangible moment I felt on top of things.

Then a strange emotion kicked in. I felt guilty. Weird huh?

I had been working like crazy for as long as I could remember, and instead of taking a little time to plan, to catch up, to do those things I'd been frustrated at not being able to do, to just relax, here I was feeling guilty. Can you believe it? I am sure you can, because I think that many people are in exactly the same boat. For some, I'm sure, now is as busy as any time, but I am equally sure that some have hit a quiet spot after the crescendo of June 30th or are adjusting to a change of pace with school holidays finishing this week.

So why the guilt? I believe it comes from two key areas. I think it primarily comes from our incredibly well-developed stress response. We are so loaded with adrenalin for such a long time, that the adrenalin junkie within us craves more stimulation.

The other secondary reason for the guilt is social pressure. Our work environment lauds people who achieve huge workloads, or are perceived to be under huge workloads. Often when we ask someone ‘how's work?' a stock standard reply is ‘flat out' or words to that effect.

Well, I'm making a stand.

I am not going to feel guilty about a couple of quiet weeks (probably the only couple of weeks of the year too!) any longer. I will not crave the adrenalin. I will not feel the social pressure. I can, and will, give myself a break.

Hey, guess what... it feels good. I'm getting around to doing those things I wished I'd had time for only weeks ago. Why don't you try it next time you have a quiet week?

Give yourself a break.

Best wishes,

Alison & Darren Hill