The truth about overworking yourself

Why do we overwork ourselves?

There are times in which our lives become very demanding and difficult to manage. We may start overworking ourselves in the sense that we want to do everything. This might happen because we are excited for new things and moments. It may also happen because we have a hard time saying no to plans and people. For example, I just moved this week and have been meeting a lot of new people and making new friends. With new friends comes making a lot of plans and I am having a hard time saying no to everyone. Deep down I’m scared that if I don’t hang out with them I might miss the opportunity of creating a nice friendship. 

Another way we can be overworking ourselves is by wanting to do everything. Maybe you are going to university but also want to go to the gym, and take guitar lessons and join a sports team and work as well. Wanting to do everything may lead to a breakdown because even if we are doing it for ourselves we might be forgetting to relax.

Putting yourself first vs neglecting yourself

There is a thin line between neglecting your needs and putting yourself first. They are both on the same side but they are different. Like I mentioned in the previous paragraph you might forget to relax because you are really concentrated in achieving your goals. That is when it can become neglect because even if you are doing it for yourself you forget the most basic things you need to be healthy both physically and mentally. That is why I believe that it’s important to have time to do nothing. 

Nothing time

During “nothing time” we can do things that don’t require much from us mentally or physically. It is your alone time where you have nothing to complete. “To complete” is the key word, because you can do a lot of things but the point is to feel like you don’t really have to. It needs to be something that you don’t put a checkmark on your to do list. Sometimes we tend to be overworking ourselves because we are afraid of being alone with our thoughts. There is where it becomes neglect. That is one of the hardest things you will learn in life and that is to sit alone with your trauma and your hurt. This way you experience it, you feel it and you get to release all these emotions.

So as I was saying before we want to get everything done, every check mark. If we don’t have enough boxes to check we create more: As long as we are occupied and away from our truth. That is because the only time we truly think about ourselves is when we are doing self-reflection, when we are doing nothing but thinking. 

My advice

I encourage you to sit at least 8 minutes with yourself and not do anything. That includes not thinking about the stuff you have to do. But to truly reflect on what you are feeling at that moment. Focus on the emotion and breathe into it. Acknowledge where in your body you are feeling it and maybe give it a color and a shape. Really feel into it and understand it. Concentrate on getting to know where it comes from or what caused it. These 8 minutes will help you not only get in touch with your feminine side but also to be more grounded within yourself.