WHY DO I FEEL SO TIRED AND OVERWHELMED? I love my kids and I love my career but it all gets to me at times.
There always seems to be something needing my time and attention. I’m just trying to hold it together and get through the day and do the best I can.
The constant chatter in my mind is insistent and keeps driving me forward. The unrelenting rush to the next thing that needs doing. Putting my son to bed while hurrying to read the email from my boss, or tearing through work to collect him from childcare before it closes. Feeling torn in ten different directions all the time.
Do you resonate with this frustration that makes you irritable with the people you love the most, because you are exhausted and too thinly spread?
I’ve spent a lot of my life in that space. Trying to do too much all at once. Doing my best but actually giving nothing my full attention. So no-one wins, least of all me.
Wherever you are when you are reading this, take a deep breath. Become aware of your surroundings. Slow down. Ask yourself what is important right now. Then forgive yourself for everything else that you can’t do at this time.
Do the one thing and forget about everything else.
Repeat this exercise as many times as you can throughout the day. Especially when you are with your children. Five minutes of real attention matters more than a day of distracted presence with them.
I wish I’d known that when I had a small boy walking beside me, holding my hand and wanting to talk non-stop, while my mind was focused on the next urgent issue at work.
I couldn’t work while walking to the playground with him, so I could have relaxed and been there with him completely. Both of us would have had a much better experience. And I would have felt more refreshed when I did sit down to catch up on work later.
So take one step at a time. Not trying to do everything. Just the one thing in front of you right now. No worrying about the next thing or regretting something you didn’t do earlier.