November has almost passed me by. I barely remember most of it. It’s been a bit of a blur.
Not a good one, or a bad one.
Just an exhausting, sometimes happy and often painful, blur of stress and activity.
This month rapidly became an experiment, or perhaps a lesson, in respecting my limits. I didn’t. I have paid the price for it:
Two panic attacks, an autistic meltdown, and a perpetually grumpy mood has been the results of my not finding a better balance.
Here’s the thing about being a writer. Unlike regular jobs, it doesn’t have a 9 to 5. It doesn’t go away. The work can be constant and neverending.
I write. I must write. The stories must get out of my head.
And then–there are books to promote. Fellow authors to support. A husband who needs and deserves attention. If you pull yourself in too many directions, things begin to slip through the cracks: a brilliant idea, or a promise made, or any number of countless things.
This month, I stretched myself too thinly and what paid the price was my emotional state of mind.
I forgot to breathe.
So, I’m remembering to do so now–a day late and a dollar short (to quote my grandfather.)
How do you remember to maintain balance in your life?
I’ve definitely been there! When anxiety and panic hit, they hit hard. I hope you’re recovering okay and carving out some space for yourself. My therapist recommended an app to me called Stop. Breathe. Think. I set it up to remind me everyday to check in and then do a short 3 minute grounding meditation. It’s actually been helpful for me. I’ve also been doing a lot of journaling and taking walks, as these things tend to help reset my brain a bit (anything that gets me away from home and into nature helps me). At one point, I actually made myself a list of things I could do for myself: check out a different coffee shop from my usual one, write outside somewhere, go for a walk by myself, take myself to a movie. I keep it with my monthly to-dos as a reminder to regularly do something for myself even when I’m feeling well. I make weekly plans and with the help of my spouse, I plan time that I get to myself to take care of myself. At first it was difficult because who has the time? But, we forced it at first, and found that since I take that time to myself I’m more productive the rest of the time, and we’re just both happier that way, and now it’s become a new habit. I hope you are doing better and finding things that work for you. ❤