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For many, taking on too much in life can feel like it’s time for a change. But is it?
Some experts say feeling overwhelmed and stressed out signifies you’re not taking enough time.
And I would agree.
I think it’s simple to say when you can balance your time between work, family, and social activities without feeling overwhelmed.
You’ll be happier and more productive.
Taking on Too Much
It’s pretty easy to say that most of us have taken on too much. The problem is when it keeps occurring, you are getting stressed out.
One thing you can do, which I’m still learning, is to realize when you are doing this and stop it.
If you happen to be someone who enjoys helping, feeling overwhelmed might even be an everyday occurrence. Don’t get me wrong, lending a helping hand is excellent. You need to recognize it when it happens.
Something important to remember is there are only so many hours in a day (24) and a week (168). Once that time is spent, it’s gone.
You will not be able to take additional time. At least for now, this is all you get.
24-Hours a Day is All You Get
Let’s take a moment and quickly divide your 24 hours into a day.
- Let’s say you sleep an average of eight hours a night (something we should all strive for).
- Plan on working nine hours five days a week (between commuting and working).
- That leaves you seven hours (for family, personal time, etc.)
If you think about it, that is not a lot of time. Some of us work further away from our homes, have family commitments, and many other obligations.
And let’s face it, do you really sleep eight hours a night?
The point here is that time is precious.
How Will You Spend Your Time?
At the beginning of this year, I decided to put myself first.
In the past, I had a well-paying job, but it was demanding (both physically and mentally). After deciding to put me first, it didn’t take long to remember what life felt like.
Having more time to do what you enjoy is truly a game-changer. Not to mention, less stress equals more quality sleep.
And again, if you are like me and tend to take on more than you should, remember to add time for yourself.
I still tend to fill my plate with more than I should (between work and trying to start a business), but I still remember to take time for myself.
To add a plug to a post I wrote a few years ago, finding what makes you happy will help determine where you should spend your limited time.
With that said, here is an essential question for you.
What have you done lately for yourself?
Maybe you have a few ideas or plans, but nothing has seemed to work out. Perhaps you think it’s time for a change. Well, I’m glad you brought that up.
Are You Ready for a Change?
Now that we got all that stuff out of the way, it’s time to focus on making a change.
I’m sure I have shared a little about it, but I was in a very rewarding career that I didn’t enjoy anymore. I got paid well and had terrific benefits, but I realized that I wasn’t happy anymore.
The funny thing was that I worked 44-70 hours a week and had a part-time job in the outdoor industry (I would work once or twice a month and loved it).
I started realizing that a very part-time job was where I was having a TON of fun. I enjoyed the people I worked with, got to outfit people for incredible adventures, and overall, I just had a blast.
So, that job became my “downtime.”
Looking back at it is funny, but that escape allowed me to take a step back and realize that I needed to make a change.
Starting a Passion Project, For Me, That Was a Blog
Suppose you aren’t ready to leave a career. Have you considered a passion project or trying something on the side?
Additionally, if you know, I have another blog called the Wilde Escape, where I write about all the fun things in life.
After having Wilde Escape for over a year, I wanted to start writing about escaping the 9 to 5 job.
And since we are on the topic, and since I’ve been getting questions about starting a blog. I’m going to start writing about how I did just that.
I think I’ll call it .
If you are interested, I think I’m going to call it Building Your Freedom.
Let me know if there is anything specific you would like me to cover or clarify.
A New Life Chapter
Sometimes, when you are ready, a separate path happens in your life.
Since starting my own blog, I discovered writing can open many doors. And yes, I get questions about AI, but there isn’t anything quite like a “Human” writer.
More than anything, AI can help us preform our jobs a lot better and possibly hold us accountable (but I’m only talking about the writing side of things, don’t get me started on AI taking over).
It’s Time for a Change
If you have read all of this or skipped to the end, you know I am on the path to change.
We all have the same 24 hours in a day. It’s up to you how you choose to spend it.
We can no longer afford to sit idly by and let others dictate our future.
It is up to us to take control of our lives and make the world a better place.
So, if this resonates with you, which I hope it does, what change are you working on today?
Let me know in the comments below.
