Life Lately: Feeling Burnt Out
Hi friends!
I hope you are enjoying your week! So, this is totally not what I had planned for today, but I’m going to be very real with you. And I wasn’t planning to even write anything out but here it goes…
I had my blog post planned for today and things just weren’t working out. My laptop is on it’s last leg and kept crashing. I tried to upload the photos for a good three hours until I gave up. We recently bought Mac desktop knowing that my laptop is going to give out anytime and I have had SUCH a hard time figuring it out. Going from Windows to Mac is quite the learning curve so I have been afraid to edit my photos on there because frankly…I can’t figure it out. It’s almost midnight right now and I have spent my entire evening fighting with my computer. And I have to wake up in a few hours for work. I’m so bummed. So frustrated. So tired and burnt out.
This week has been so hard on me. You may have noticed that I have been much less active this week on the blog, social media and with replying to your comments. It because I literally have no time. As you know, I wasn’t planning to take anymore work days so that I could really put 100% into the blog, but I was asked (many times) to work this week and I finally obliged. I am such a people pleaser and love to help anyway I can, but sometimes it is just too much. Just to give you an idea of my work load…the subbing job is an hour out of town. After getting ready for the day, I leave at 6:30am. Classes are back to back with the only break being a 30 minute lunch. Immediately after school, I drive to wherever I start my guitar lessons for that day (up to an hour away) and teach for a few hours with out breaks in between. I usually get home around 8:30pm. Then I need to get my blog post ready for the day, which usually ends up with me not going to bed until well after midnight.
I’m not writing this to complain at all or make excuses. But really, it is just too much for me to handle. I used to work crazy hours like this when I was younger but now that I’m getting older, I notice that it’s so much harder. All I think about is how my time could be better spent on putting my all into this blog and I am just so upset about this. When I say yes to certain things, it takes away from others. There is always a sacrifice and I’m not so sure that I’m willing to sacrifice the things that I love anymore.
This week has taught me that I need to learn how to say no. Like REALLY learn and actually do it. I’m so terrified of hurting other people’s feelings, but I have to do what is best for me, my health and my business. I am one person and cannot possibly do everything or be everything to everyone. I am exhausted…physically, mentally, emotionally. What’s even worse is that I am natural workaholic and perfectionist, so this is such a struggle for me.
I apologize that this isn’t my normal uplifting and happy kind of post, but I thought that you all should know what was really going on behind the scenes and know that I’m not slacking off or anything. I also felt that I owed you all an explanation for the craziness. Sometimes things just don’t happen as planned and that’s okay. You all are so so important to me and I love every minute that I spend blogging (it’s all that I want to do) so I hope that you understand! Again, I’m so sorry for not having my outfit post up for you today as promised. Thursday is my REAL last day of work so I will definitely have a special outfit post up for Friday along with the linkup.
Thank you all so much for your support!
It means the world to me <3
xo
Oh Liz, I read your post and so glad that you wrote it honestly and from your heart. I hope you will feel better when your last day will be on Thursday so then you can focus only on one thing and have more time for yourself. I have a whole different respect for you reading this post that is honest and shows that nobody’s life behind the scene is perfect and we all struggle. I admire you for your ambition to work so hard, with so many jobs and with such a passion. You go, girl!
https://mihabalan.com
Thank you Miha! I appreciate that so much! It’s very hard for me to open up but I am so glad that the week is over and I can finally catch up on everything. I am so excited to be able to dedicate more time to the things I love the most 🙂
No worries my friend! I completely understand where you are coming from. Learning how to say no is the hardest thing but so glad you are coming to terms with it. I know your followers are not going anywhere including me.
http://www.kathrineeldridge.com
Thank you so much Kathrine! It’s definitely been a learning process, but I have definitely learned that I simply cannot do everything anymore. There has to be a line drawn and I have to do it. Thank you for always being so supportive <3
Thank you so much for your honesty. Taking care of yourself when you are a hard worker is often so difficult to do–it seems to be a weakness of many bloggers (myself included). I know you plan to stop working Thursday, but perhaps you can ask a few blogger friends to check in with you once in a while to help you stay focused. Community is such a powerful thing, and I know that there are others dealing with the same struggles who could probably use some encouragement too! But please, take rest if you need it. As others have said, we aren’t going anywhere, and we’d rather know that you’re healthy and happy and wait for a post than to see you exhausted and discouraged. Thanks for being inspiring.
https://www.themarycurator.com/
Thank you so much Mary Colleen! I think that this is something a lot of bloggers struggle with. It’s very hard to manage so many things while being a blogger and working other jobs on top of it. Something is going to be sacrificed. I have definitely learned my lesson this time and while I am still playing catch up, I am hoping that setting a schedule and sticking to it will help my time management a bit better instead of becoming so overwhelmed with everything that needs to get done. I think that checking in would b so helpful. Thank you for your support!
I completely know how you feel Liz and it is clear that you are very motivated because most people would have given up and not posted at all! At least you followed through and posted! I have been there too thinking all I want to do is blog and get frustrated when I take on other work. I sometimes do acting but when it is a few days in a row I get seriously stressed out and stay up way past midnight night just to submit a post. Don’t worry you will make it through the week and next week will be better! Keep it up you are doing great!
xo
http://www.laurajaneatelier.com
Thank you Laura! I’m glad I am not alone in feeling this way. I did feel a bit of resentment thinking about all the time that I could have used for my blog instead, but it is what it is. I think that I care for others too much sometimes and as much as I like to help out, I simply cannot be everything to everyone. First and foremost, I have to take care of myself and chase my dreams instead of helping others make theirs happen. Thank you for the encouragement!
I think saying no is one of the hardest things to do, Liz. And as much as I wish I had the answer—I still get caught up in helping others out more than I always want!!
But we totally understand, and love you for your honesty!
Jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
Thank you Jodie! I think that’s my issue. I always want to help, help, help! And as much of a good thing I thought it was, I’m finding that it’s not always in my best interest. I know that some will be upset with me saying no or choosing not to do something, but I think there is only so much one person can do before they are spread too thin and that’s definitely how I’m feeling. I have to do what is best for me
Hi sweetie, thank you for being honest. The first step is already done, you know you need to start saying no otherwise you will have no time for things you love. It is hard at first but it is for your own good. You have to respect yourself.
Big hugs, Lizzie. I hope you will get some time to rest this weekend.
X
Miri
http://currentlywearing.com
Thank you for this reminder Miri! it’s SO hard to say no for many different reasons, but you are absolutely right. I need to do what is best for me. 🙂
Oh good! It’s not just me hahah! I thought I had the worst computer luck ever lol. I feel like I am buying laptops every three years or so and it’s about that time. The Mac is very difficult to get adjusted too, but hopefully I can set aside some time soon to learn 🙂
Thank you so much for your encouragement Tina! I’m such a private person, so it’s very hard for me to be so open about things. But working too much and not saying no is a HUGE struggle for me because I just like to make people happy. But in reality, I’m spreading myself too thin and it’s holding me back from accomplishing more for myself. Oh my goodness! The Mac struggle is so real. I feel like I have to watch youtube tutorials for every little thing. Crossing my fingers too haha!