Don’t Run Yourself Down

My last post was all about positive input and moral support. Another important thing to remember as a single parent is don’t run yourself down!

I, personally, happen to be one of the world’s best at running myself to exhaustion. Sometimes, though, you HAVE to step back, breathe, and prioritize the things you are doing. Over the last few weeks, I’ve noticed several times that I am tired to the point of being dizzy. Literally. And let me tell you, that is not the time to start cooking dinner on a gas stove with an open flame! Or to get behind the wheel of a car to chauffeur your kids someplace!

So, what brought this on? A combination of things,I am sure. We have always done a lot in this house. I think what started it is losing my part time gig, that I knew was going to pay me every 2 weeks, and cover the barest minimum of our bills. This on top of a recurring health problem that I know good and well causes extreme fatigue when it flares up. But, then that security blanket was yanked away, and I started having to really, really, hustle for all my money!  If you have read ANY of my other posts, you know I can hustle up a little extra money when needed. And, I haven’t done too shabby. But, as a single parent, how much is this extra hustle is really paying off…and how much of it is from some exaggerated, imagined desperation?

Well, when I really think about it, a whole huge  chunk of it comes from inside my own head. We’re still eating. We’re still paying bills. My job board is pretty full at the moment.  So, I’m actually in pretty decent shape. But, there is still that little crazymaker voice inside my head that say, “What if the work runs out? What if you don’t line up the next job super fast?” and so on.

If I take the time to think this through, I’m no good to anybody if I am so tired I cannot even think, much less drive or attempt to cook. And, one of the things I try to do is offer my customers a quick turnaround on their projects. After all, if I can’t put them on the job board for 6 weeks, it’s very likely they will shop around for somebody who can take care of them faster. And as far as kids go, if you sit on the couch for a minute, then pass out from sheer exhaustion, what good are you doing for them?

And, when I thought about it a bit more, my actions were driven more by this imagined crisis than anything else. While it’s good to plan for the near future, I’m trying to focus now on things that are more practical, and not so desperate. And, the more confident I am, the more that shows to both my child, and my customers.  Kids can sense when something is wrong, which in turn will stress you out even more. And, your customers are the same way – you never want them to have the impression that you are simply desperate. And while I am really all for hustling when it’s needed, don’t wear yourself out too much. You could pay for this in more ways than one!

So, take a step back. Breathe, relax, and think before you act. Need a little inspiration? Listen to something like Earl Nightingale’s “The Strangest Secret” (download for free here), or read a book like “The Artist’s Way.” Listen to Dan Miller’s free podcasts. I did all of the above, and I gotta tell you…I’m glad for the reminders sometimes! We all get so wrapped up in the hustle of making money and trying to take care of everything all the time, this gets very easy to forget. But it is definitely well worth remembering.