Nobody makes good decisions when sleep deprived or emotionally aroused.
As much as I am for following your gut there’s a distinction between impulse and intuition.
Very few decisions cannot wait another day. Even the seemingly most urgent ones.
Take a minute to think about it. And whatever you decide, know that you gave it your best.
You can decide tomorrow
You can decide tomorrow is a mantra that I have consciously taped in the back of my mind.
How many times do we act out of panic and desire to “just get on with it” when sometimes all we need is an extra 5 minutes?
My mind tends to go at full speed at all times, which was rarely an issue before becoming a mother. If anything, I believe it’s what contributed to my “tundra” energy as
would describe it.I’ve always been good at moving forward. A doer. A true “I-make-things-happen” type of person.
A big part of my confidence was based on knowing that whatever happens, I can just figure it out. Usually quite quick.
And then I became a mother. Blessed with a first daughter who didn’t accept anyone to hold her but mommy for close to 2 years and who woke me every hour through the night made sleep deprivation take on a new meaning (read: definite zombie-mode).
From having pushed through whatever wall that came up, I suddenly had to learn to surrender and be okay with it. It was everything but easy, but boy did it make me grow.
She taught me that many of the things I was “in a hurry to do/decide” doesn’t really matter. That to take a nap in the middle of the day can *actually* be the most productive use of your time.
Sometimes (often-times) we do do do without stopping to reflect on why and what we’re busy doing.
Do we really need to be everywhere? Do everything? Or have an answer this very minute?
What happens if I don’t decide right now, but just wait a little?
You don’t have to be available all the time. You, just like everyone else, are allowed to have a disconnected life too.
Is it weekend? Great, you don’t have to open your email until Monday. Just because you’re self-employed doesn’t mean that you have to be constantly on duty.
When I finally realized that the earth will not stop turning if I take a small break and wait until tomorrow to make a decision or to take action, it was as if a big heavy stone lifted from my shoulders.
It felt as though a sort of responsibility that I had never been given (but had put on myself), was being lifted.
I don’t have to be constantly available to others in order to do a good job, or to be successful.
Phhheeeeewww.
There it is. Can you feel it flying too?
To whoever needs to hear this: You don’t have to decide today. It’s not your responsibility to always be available.
Thank you for reading and letting my thoughts and reflections into your inbox,
Love,
Elin
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Sometimes I do have to shake myself and say... no-one is waiting with baited breath on your post/email/thoughts on X matter 😅 the ego sometimes tricks us that they are! That, and hustle culture. It can wait. Almost everything can wait 🤍
This week, I told my boss that my objective for this year is to be less busy (imagine the reaction on his face), so I can think more and bring more value by doing less, but better. I so agree with your view.
Something went the wrong way when we started associating being busy, always-on, with being valuable. Being less busy also helps me breathe deeper. 💆♀️