I Cannot Do It All
Posted by Jan Wencel on Wed, Sep 14, 2011
This is the story of how I re-learned I cannot do it all.
This summer I joyously dedicated much of my time to the care of a dearly-loved family member. When the care began, I was off to a good start. I allowed someone else to renegotiate my commitments the first week (thanks, sister!). After noticing a constant irritability, I re-calibrated my me/alone time (being kind to the introvert I am).
And then it all went to hell in a hand basket.
I turned down help. (No delegation.) I reduced my time spent alone. (Not honoring who I am.) I stopped practicing yoga. (No self care.) I stopped renegotiating commitments. (Silly.) I continued a near-full work schedule. (Stupid.) I failed to meet the expectations I set for how I service clients. (Not fun.) I neglected people I love. (Not fulfilling.)
Trying to do it all and thinking I had no limits was a humbling stretch of time, indeed. It resulted in writing someone to tell them I don't have my submission prepared on time, in sending an invoice more than a month late, in having a build back up disregarded personal relationships, and in leaving a few clients wondering when the next personal productivity check up call would happen.
Don't get me wrong. The summer was filled with magnificent life moments. But I needed to learn again I cannot do it all. Thanks, Moe, for that valuable lesson.
What sparked your last reminder? What are the signs you see before you go too deep? Share your story so we can all learn from it.