I’ve noticed recently, particularly here but also on the big world wide web, that we idolise the notion of being busy to the point of it being damaging. People are working towards their dreams pulling 16 hour days 7 days a week and boasting to the world about it. The rest of us mortals, the ones who actually need to take a break, can only weep into our cup of tea.
As human beings we need rest, and we need to take breaks to allow us to focus. If we work too hard our bodies can’t cope. If I start sacrificing sleep in the name of other pursuits I get sicker faster than you can say ‘bed’. Sleep is key, and I don’t think pulling all nighters to finish an essay because you were too busy with extracurriculars to do it during the day is something to brag about.
I guess the purpose of this post is to tell you that it’s okay to take time for yourself. It’s okay to not be productive all the time. It’s totally fine if you want to spend tonight snuggled up and watching Netflix. That’s an important part of self-care, and looking after ourselves is an activity that frankly we can be rubbish at.
So let’s pull on our pyjamas and have a relaxing night shall we? I know I will.
SO true!!!
ReplyDeleteI work both full and part time so that's 6 days a week, blog when I can, have a relationship, pets and still maintain a social life.
We all need to learn to just take a few moments, get the kettle on and relax. Well said,.
Gillian xx EyelinerFlicks
I'm so glad you agree Gillian! It's hard to find a balance when we're busy (and it sounds like you are!) but it's so important :) xx
DeleteI honestly couldn't have read this at a better time, and I completely agree with you! Busyness has become this notion we idolize, and it has been taken to an extreme point. I feel like as technology advances, we have begun to hold ourselves up against it, as if we are competing against a computer. We're only human, though. We need to take breaks. We need to breathe every once in a while. We aren't machines. We're more than that. We can feel things, we can socialize, and we have agency. We're not built to be robots and yet, that is what we are making great attempts to become.
ReplyDeleteBeing productive is a great thing and it makes you feel like you're not wasting your time. However, you're completely right when you say that we've begun to kill ourselves with the work we're piling on. When did productivity stop being a self-fulfilling act and turn into a competition? The more we pile on ourselves, the more chance we have of burning out. We want so much control over everything that we forget that putting too much on our plate can actually have a reverse effect of losing it all.
We're humans, and that's not a bad thing. We're more than machines. Taking a break or a moment to stop can be all we need to refresh ourselves, to keep us going.
I really needed this to remind me that it's okay to slow down and you don't have to beat yourself up for it. Like I said, I couldn't have read this at a better time. Thank you for your words. They really do make a difference. :)
Thank you for your beautiful comment Misha! I'm so glad that you agree and I could help :) I think you really pinpointed my biggest problem with productivity - I want to feel like I've never wasting my time but I can't always be productive, if I don't rest then my work suffers. Thank you for phrasing everything so elegantly xxx
DeleteHear, hear, Liza! I agree completely but I'm guilty of doing this myself. I have a reason as to why I wish to keep my mind busy... Sometimes people, like myself, may be a little scared to let their mind rest, to settle, to think. What do you think?
ReplyDeleteI definitely think you're right, and I'm guilty of it myself! But I've been working really hard to find ways that I can relax that don't allow my mind to wander too much, such as reading fiction - I can allow myself some peaceful time but my thoughts are on the story rather than things I'd rather not think about. Could that work for you?
DeleteThanks for commenting xx
I couldn't agree more with this post and it's just so brilliantly written! We do too much and our brains can't keep up so we end up stressed, turning to unhealthy coping mechanisms and suffer from insomnia. Taking care of ourselves and allowing a day or two to relax is so important xx
ReplyDeleteSam // Samantha Betteridge
Thank you so much Sam! It's crazy how much we sacrifice our own health and wellbeing for the sake of these tasks that we 'must' do. I'm so glad you agree xx
DeleteOMG we have the same name!!! (I am Liza Bailey)
ReplyDeleteHow funny! I used to be Liza Bailey until my mum remarried :)
DeleteAGREE 100% how are we supposed to do all the work, eat all the fruit and veg, exercise everyday, keep our houses super clean, socialize and floss! Sometimes I just want pjs and takeaway and just to chill
ReplyDeletethriftylilpixie.com
I love how you phrased this! Let's just wear pjs and chill, it's so much more fun and so important to do sometimes xxx
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