Three Secrets To More Balance
Trying to figure out how to get everything done during the summer while also making time to relax and do all of those like rejuvenating things that you had planned?
You’re not alone.
I don't know about you, but during the summer, I always feel like there are so many things that I have on my list of goals and tasks, including getting ready for next school year, and it can be hard to really figure out what you need to give a lot of your time and energy to, and what you can let go of a little bit.
So I want to share with you three things that you can do to have a little bit more balance in these short, sweet summer months.
Balance is especially important given everything that we're dealing with right now with regards to COVID-19, especially as far as what school is going to look like when/if we go back and all the variables that are up in the air right now. Although most of us just want to have some sense of normalcy, we have to concede that these times are anything but normal as we navigate the various impacts of this global pandemic.
Here are three things that I do when I'm trying to feel sane and like I have some semblance of balance.
Practice radical permission. This means to do whatever I want, whether it’s to binge-watch a show on Netflix, order in for breakfast, stay in my pajamas until noon, sleep in. What can you give yourself radical permission to indulge in? Maybe it’s something that you might not ordinarily give yourself permission to do. And if it makes you feel guilty, you can ask yourself why. Ask yourself, Am I harming anybody? And if the answer is no, then give yourself radical permission to give yourself what you really want, especially if it makes your life a little easier and makes you feel a little less stressed. You can give yourself radical permission to let the dishes go after one meal, or to order in for supper or to invest in a unit plan on Teachers Pay Teachers instead of having to reinvent the wheel. Let someone else make your life easier.
Use the Pomodoro method to get the important things done. This technique is named after the Italian word for tomato was developed by Francesco Cirillo, who as a university student, used a tomato timer to focus on his 25-minute intervals of work. So when you do have to get things done like the dishes, or piles of laundry, instead of letting the task drone on for endless minutes and hours, time it. You can use the Pomodoro method or your own method. All you're basically doing is timing yourself for a segmented amount of time, whether it's 25 minutes, or 5 minutes, and you get something done that you had been putting off. Even better is to give yourself a little bit of a reward at the end, like a piece of dark chocolate, or pedicure or something that would just be something to look forward to.
Prioritize. This kind of goes back to giving yourself radical permission--in this case, permission to say no to something that isn’t urgent. Is it more important to enjoy a sunny day with your kids or get the dishes done right now? Is it more important to meet a good friend for a walk (practicing safe social distancing, of course) or to get the laundry put away?The more that we think, “Oh gosh! I have so many things to do and don't know where to start,” the more we will spin. Instead, try to think, “What would make me feel accomplished right now? What would bring me a little more peace and joy right now? What would bring the people around me a little bit more peace and joy?”
What are your tips for achieving a bit more balance these days? Reply back and let me know.
If nobody else tells you today, you rock!