UNITED STATES—I’m starting to realize in life that you sometimes can do way too much. I’d like to think I’m a superhero who can do almost anything, but as I age it has become a realization in life that you can’t do it all even if you want to or people think you should. I’ve been known to juggle at least 2 or 3 jobs at a time, while attending school. Yes, for most people they would crash and burn, but for me I am able to push through the madness.
However, this week I just crashed and I burned totally. I’ve started to realize I’m not going to allow work to be my life. I’m a firm believer that when you work from home you have to hit the ‘turn off’ switch. What does that mean? There is ALWAYS and I mean ALWAYS something to do, and as a result you feel that things have to be done and it’s never-ending. I don’t believe people expect you to do it all, but I get the sense more times than I can count that I’m the ‘go to guy’ and I hate that notion. Where is my second in command? What happens if something transpires in my personal life where I’m not able to work? Then what happens?
I think that is very important in the world of work at any company. You CANNOT rely on a sole person do to it all. It’s exhausting and at the same time it can place a place of business in dire straits if they don’t plan ahead. I’m used to being that guy who has to check his email daily. I’ve stopped that. I’ve gone to only checking my email when I’m working or scheduled to work. Out of sight out of mind; if you don’t see it, you can’t stress about it.
For those who know me, I work 6 days a week, juggling two jobs, a side gig and full-time graduate student. Saturday is the one day I get off during the week, and I refuse and I mean that with a golden fist to NOT do anything. Don’t expect me to reply to texts; don’t send me an email, plain and simple DO NOT EXPECT ME TO DO ANYTHING on my day off! In life you have to take a bit of time to yourself, and do something that brings you ‘Flow.’ Some of you might be asking what precisely is flow? Well it’s when you’re doing something that you enjoy so much that you lose track of time. Yes, many of us don’t know what precise passions are, but for those who do, don’t let it go and indulge in it.
My inability to pump the brakes on life has put me in a situation where I had to sit down and just rest. Try to get some sleep because I’ve been staying up way too late at night working, instead of actually getting a bit of rest. As a result I’m tossing and turning most of the night. I actually hate that America. Just the other night I found myself watching a podcast (one of the few things that allows me to decompress), that I was dozing off.
As a result, instead of trying to continue to watch, I just turned it off and went to sleep. I realize that when I’m burnt tired I tend to get the best sleep. However, it’s not smart for my body, as I tend to perhaps indulge in bad food items or eat at weird times during the day. Making my situation worse is that I have injured my foot and I’m in miserable pain. That was something that forced me to realize I have to just stop, rest, relax, reboot and repeat.
America we have to stop doing too much, you sometimes have to know your limits, which at times I don’t think I do. However, I am starting to realize that I do indeed have limits and as a result I’ve realized knowing your limits are important. Sometimes you just can’t do it all, work is work; you can’t kill yourself trying to please the world. Do what you can and let the rest happen as it will because some employers don’t know a good employee until they are no longer with the company.
Written By Kelsey Thomas