I’ve started writing this post a few times.
I keep getting stuck. Or distracted. But that’s part of why I feel the need to continue to write it.
Blogging has ended up having to take a backseat the last couple of weeks. And it probably will for at least a few more weeks.
On the one hand, I feel like I want to keep pushing myself to add new posts, and I worry that someone might be “upset” that I haven’t published much that’s new lately.
But on the other hand- I need to take a break. For my own sanity and ability to manage my time!
I was fortunate enough to start a new part-time job (working from home!!) at the beginning of June, and as you can imagine, there’s a learning curve and also requirement of my time. I’m really excited about this new job, but with only so many hours in the day where I want to work, my energy and time has shifted.
So, blogging is taking a back seat.
And I’ve decided not to feel guilty about it. I wanted to write this to encourage you not to feel guilty if you make the decision to take a break on something. This is part of how we find balance.
The funny thing is, I actually do have time at the end of the day. But, in the last couple weeks, I’ve spent my evening hours watching mindless TV (I discovered that Gossip Girl is on Netflix…yes, I’m in my mid-30s and I love this show!). I’ve realized that with this new job that requires more focus and brain power than I’ve been utilizing lately (which I love!), which means that I don’t have the same mental stamina at the end of the day that I’ve previously had.
I believe that in time, I’ll be more efficient at this job, and will shift back to using my evenings more productively, but for now, this is the balance that’s working for me.
I wanted to share this with you for a couple reasons. 1) To explain my absence on the blog, 2) To remind you it’s okay to press pause on something, even when you love it, and 3) To encourage you not to feel bad or guilty if you need to give yourself a break.
Being a working mom is hard. I feel very fortunate to mostly work from home and that the work I do is flexible enough to figure out my own schedule. The trade-off is that I don’t have a set schedule where I know I can work, uninterrupted, and that my older son watches a lot of TV (he loves that, though!).
When you find that you’re struggling, that there’s “too much to do” or that you’re feeling overwhelmed, ask yourself what you can stop doing. What can take a break, or a backseat? I’ve actually felt less stressed since I started this job, even though I’m working more, and part of that is being thoughtful about how I’m spending my time.
So, rather than feel bad about how much you have to do, or that you don’t have enough time for what you want (or need) to get done, make the choice to put something aside, even if it’s just for a few days or a week. Having that extra time (and mental space) may be just what you need to get back on track.
At some point (hopefully not too long from now), I’ll get back into the groove of regular posts, I’ll finish my site redesign, and everything will fit on my plate! I’m looking forward to that time, and I’m also going to enjoy what I’ve got going on right now!
What’s one thing you might want to put on the back burner for a bit?