Hi, how’s it going? Hope you are doing well.

I’ve talked to many people over the years who complained about being worn out. Some of them you could tell were at the point of exhaustion.

The conversation usually went something like this: Me: “How are you doing today?” Them: “You know, I’m doing pretty good; I’m just so tired.” Me: “You look tired. Have you been getting any sleep?” Them: “A little. Not as much as I need to.” Me: “Well, why not?” Them: “I’ve always got so much to do. I hurry around doing everything with no time to take a break during the day, and then I have to take a while to wind down before I go to bed otherwise I can’t sleep.”

Me: “I’ve been there, but that’s when it’s time to cut back on some of the things you’re doing.” Them: “Oh I can’t cut back! My loved one needs me and I have to work and I’m not going to drop…” Do you see how this is a self-defeating conversation?

Today it seems like everyone is always on the go. It’s always hurry, hurry, hurry and go, go, go!

Here’s my suggestion for how to combat exhaustion: STOP!

Now, I know what you’re thinking. You can’t drop everything. You can’t ignore things that are really there. You can’t take too much time out of your busy day or you won’t get anything done. You have obligations.

Well that’s all fine, but you have to remember, your biggest obligation is yourself! Your second obligation is your loved one, whom you can’t take care of unless you first meet your own needs. So it is necessary sometimes to stop.

Now, stopping can mean several things. It can mean stopping to take a break. That doesn’t mean permanent; you can get back to things soon. But everybody needs a break.

It can also mean stopping to prioritize. If you don’t have a prioritized game plan, then you might as well be running around in circles. You are likely to do more time wasting and busy-making that way then you are to do anything that is productive. Prioritizing your tasks is a sure way to help you figure out what needs to be done, when, how, and in what order. Some people can prioritize in their heads; others need pen and paper. You might also try calendars and voice recorders. Whatever method works best for you, prioritizing is a healthy thing to do to manage your time and energy.

Stopping can also mean choosing to stop something altogether. Now, this does mean quitting something for good. And sometimes that really is for good: sometimes you need to quit something to keep yourself healthy. If you’ve gotten yourself into too many obligations, then you may need to back off one or two of them. After all, you wouldn’t want to lose track of your obligations to your loved one in the mix of everything, would you?

Other times stopping means you need to put your foot down and say you’re done for the day, even though you have a couple hours yet before bedtime. After all, if you need a few hours to unwind after a busy day, then giving yourself those few extra hours would be wise.

Stopping can mean several things, and it usually means something that will help you to take a break. So, for once, make a point to practice your stopping skills. It just might help. 

What ways do you think you could stop that might help you?

Well, I have to go!

Your Friend,

Dave