Does anyone else feel the pressure to be productive? Like. All. Of. The. Time.
I can’t be the only one that feels this way. What do you do when you suddenly have a spare hour (or 10 minutes) without kids pulling on your legs?
If you’re anything like me, you start to panic and frantically try to get everything done that has been on your ever growing “to do” list. Sometimes I make lists that I can reference when I do have a moment to myself. But honestly, most of the time I don’t even have time to write down the list let alone get the list done. This self-inflicted pressure to be productive seems to be constant.
I fold a load of laundry when I watch T.V., I look on my phone and read through the ever-growing list of emails when I am sitting in the car waiting for my kids in the parking lot at school, I add coupons to my Target Cartwheel app for more efficient shopping while watching my kids playing in the park, and the juggling act goes on and on. It doesn’t seem to stop. Ever.
I was taking a shower the other night (because when was the last time I actually had the time to shower in the morning like a regular person) and I stepped out of the shower before I was done washing my hair. My hair was full of soapy shampoo. I had totally forgotten the steps to take a shower. I forgot what the heck I was doing.
Then I realized that I had made a grocery list in my head. This was supposed to be my “me time”. But clearly I was not present. I did not take this precious rare moment for myself. I made a dumb list.
There is a rule at my twins preschool that you can’t have your cell phone or coffee with you at preschool drop-off and pick-up. When I first heard this rule I was a bit surprised. Not because of the rule itself, but because they actually had to say it out loud and make it a rule.
Be present.
Sometimes I hear my future self whispering in my ear to slow the heck down, grab a book, or a coffee, or take a freaking nap already. I usually ignore her. However, recently while I was running errands alone, I pulled over my car and stopped by a lake. I got out of my car, sat in a chair and just enjoyed the moment.
My future self was happy.
I actually took this moment for myself. And let go of the guilt in doing so. I just appreciated a minute of peace…all by myself.