Sadly, many people keep themselves going and going in a vain
attempt to reach a place that doesn’t exist. That place is being
completely finished with nothing else left to do. The reason why many
people have trouble sleeping is that even though they are physically in
bed, mentally they are still not done, and thoughts of the things still
left to do are regurgitating in their mind. Balanced people accept the
fact that they will never be completely caught up and don’t get
themselves all frazzled and worked up trying.
Even though we know there is a limit to what we can accomplish in
one day, we often set unrealistic expectations for ourselves. When we
can’t accomplish everything on our "to do" list, we berate
ourselves for not working hard enough or fast enough. Many of us live
with a constant sense of guilt that we didn’t accomplish enough, no
matter how unrealistic our expectations were in the first place. But do
you realize that if you did everything that needed to be done in your
life in one day, you wouldn't be a human being? You'd be a superhero.
Our inability to live up to the superhero image keeps us feeling
like we’re always one step behind. Letting go of this image is the
first step in setting realistic expectations for ourselves. Start to let
go of your superhero tendencies by recognizing that there is only so
much any one person can do in one day. Acknowledge that you have limits,
and that pushing yourself beyond your limits will only lead to
frustration and exhaustion.
The next thing you can do is simply declare yourself
"done" on a daily basis. You firmly resolve that after a
certain point or time of day, you’re not going to attempt anything
else and will not "do" anything of substance. This is an
extremely freeing exercise that allows you to recharge your capacity to
produce.
We all know that life is temporary, but sometimes we forget that
we don’t know when our last day is going to be and how many moments we
have left. Since we don’t know, one of the most important things has
got to be being fully present in the moments of life and enjoying each
step along the way- not getting everything done. Remember that even
though you will never be finished, you decide when you are done on a
daily basis. Lastly, remind yourself that there has to be a reason why
we are called human "beings" instead of human
"doings."
About the Author
Kevin
Stacey helps companies and professionals achieve maximum productivity
and effectiveness through stress management and time management
training. He is available to speak on these topics.
For more information visit http://www.TrainRightInc.com
or call 1-800-603-7168.
