Why this speaks to me this week:

There is always something to do... I mean literally, always. Even trying to decide what to do can be a task in and of itself. It can become the dreaded freeze state. You don't know where to start, and quite frankly there are too many things to start... so instead of starting anything at all—you stop. 

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​I constantly see people online who seem like they never stop... and it ends up creating this unrealistic expectation that my car should always be clean, and the dishes should always be done, the fridge should always be full... so on and so on. It makes you feel like a failure... but at what... life? There's absolutely no way. I have to remind myself that I don't have it so bad. I have a roof over my head and a job that pays (most of) my bills.  

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I'm not a machine, but sometimes I treat myself like one—only valuing the hours I'm plugged in... wishing I had a "low power mode". Here's the thing: we weren't meant to work this much. Holding down two jobs just to pay rent and afford groceries isn't living—it's surviving. And even then, barely. It's like we're supposed to be as fast, efficient, and available as our phones, but in what world?? 

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We need to preserve our battery, just as we would our phones if we were on a long car ride when we've forgotten our chargers. Think about it—we use our phones constantly: downloading, deleting, recharging, accidentally dropping. Eventually it breaks... and you have to replace it. You want it to last as long as possible before it's inevitable defeat. Think of yourself the same way. Conserve energy when and where you can. We, as human beings, were never meant to be on all the time. Treat your rest as an essential item on your to-do list—not a reward, not a luxury. And when you do rest, don't let it stir up shame or a sense of unworthiness. You are doing the best you can with what you have. And that's why I remind myself: my worth is not dependent on my productivity.