Have you ever had a conversation with yourself or someone else that goes along the lines of “I’ve done this, and this, and that, and something else, and then I tried this, and someone advised me to do that, and I still don’t feel like I have made any progress!”?

Or what about the never-ending “to do” list that you keep either in your head, on your phone or on a piece of paper?

 

Getting Nowhere Fast

There will be times in our lives that this will seem more apparent.  Before moving back to the UK from Florida (laid off and work visa was running out), I had been doing anything and everything I could think of, or had been suggested to me, or I had read about to try to make a last ditch attempt at finding a job/company that would be willing to take over my visa sponsorship and, with any luck, start the process of sponsoring my green card.

Three months of this went by and I found myself sitting on a plane having packed up and shipped, or sold off everything I owned.  I had hugged, kissed, and waved goodbye at Miami airport to the man I had hoped I would be spending the rest of my life with, my best friends and their new babies.  I was exhausted.  Physically and emotionally drained.

 

Now What?

I knew that the next thing I had to do was nothing!  It was mid-November and I was going to allow myself until the end of the year to come to terms with everything, reconnect with my family and take care of myself and my broken heart.

I had become so preoccupied with doing things to solve my challenges, problems, situations and relationships, that I had exhausted myself in the process.  I had become frustrated, prickly, over-focused, obsessed and defined by what I was dealing with and it was probably not helping me in any way, shape or form.

Sitting on the plane in tears, I was conscious that I would be starting the UK-wide job search all over again after the new year and I needed to prepare myself for that.  I realised that it meant that I needed to do nothing.  I had to take care of who I was being as I went about my life.  First impressions matter, especially in the job-hunt mode, and in order to put my best foot forward in an interview situation, I had to strike the balance between who I am AND what I do.

 

do nothing

Looking Forwards

And so I landed on this calm feeling of certainty that when nothing I was doing was working, then maybe it was time for me to do nothing and see what would come of that.  So that’s where I am.  I am focusing on connecting with the people around me at home and those I left behind in the US and taking the time to do things I enjoy and where I get peace of mind.  I’ve also started doing my 30-min workout videos in the morning with the understanding of “healthy body, healthy mind” and I do notice a much more upbeat and happier version of myself compared to what I was like three months earlier!

 

Share Your Insights 

Where in your life are you exhausted from doing everything you can think of?  Is it time for you to have a break from doing so and being kinder to yourself?  What do you do to take care of yourself (body, mind, and spirit)?  Share your comments below.

 

Your First Step

If you are interested in turning things around for yourself,  contact me for a free 1-hour session to discuss what’s going on in your life and which of my coaching programmes would be the best match for you.  You can read up on my Stepping Stones to Happiness or From Job Adversity to Career Prosperity programmes here.