How to know when enough is really enough

“My son is a senior and heading off to college in the fall. I’ve tried to teach him to cook, do his own laundry, and advocate for himself. But I’m worried sick that he’s not ready.”

“Our office is short staffed. I put in so many extra hours that I’m losing sleep but the work tasks keep coming in. I try to keep up, but my stuff never gets done.”

“I got a call from my 90 year old mom yesterday and she reluctantly told me that she fell this week. She lives in another state and I can’t get my eyes on her, like I want to. I constantly think about what else I could be doing to support her.”

These are real conversations I had with women this week. Do you sense a theme?

This is the refrain so many of us are carrying in our heads…

How do I ever really know that I've done enough?

It’s been a lot lately, hasn’t it?

I mean, where ARE those lazy, hazy days of summer?!?

What my dad often told me, when I was overwhelmed (or too full of myself) is so true.

This too shall pass.

That said, I’ve also developed a few strategies that definitely help keep me grounded in the midst of all the crazy.

Here’s what’s helping me right now:

Weekly Review: On Sunday afternoons, I spend an hour planning the next week with a process that’s called, The Living Fully Balanced Process. Check out The Living Fully Balanced Life Planner, for more details.

Thinking Time: Every morning, before I get out of bed, I ENVISION how I want the day to go and I think about the tasks I want to get done. I reflect on the attitude I’ll need in order to accomplish those things and then I pray to God and ask Him to guide me.

FIRST 15: I take the first fifteen minutes in my day (after I pour my coffee first, obvi) and just do the thing that needs to get done. I mean, we do anything for just 15 minutes!

Acceptance and Grace: There are lots of things I’d like to be doing, but I also accept that sometimes all you can do… is all you can do. And that’s OK.

Creating ME time: When I design my week, it’s important to make sure that I’ve got at least ONE thing in my day, just for me… just because. It helps me remember that I don’t need to be in production mode all day long.

So, those are some of the things I'm doing for myself.

I don’t know what kind of season you’re in, but if it feels a little crazy or stressful, or you’re overwhelmed with everything you have on your plate right now, please know that you’re not alone.

But also know this: no season lasts forever.

Haruki Marakumi once said, “And once the storm is over, you won’t remember how you made it through, how you managed to survive. You won’t even be sure whether the storm is really over. But one thing is certain. When you come out of the storm, you won’t be the same person who walked in. That’s what this storm’s all about.”

In other words?

It is often during our hardest seasons that we find our greatest strength.

And so, I encourage you to keep going, and to maybe try one of these strategies if you think it could help.

And, if you’re ready to ditch the trial and error, hope and pray strategy that's been keeping you on that hamster wheel, join me this fall for The Q4 Life Design Retreat.

The Life Design Retreat

Friday, Sept. 27, 2024

12:00-4:00 pm

Modernwell co-working space

This is when we take 4 hours and create the quarter you want.

This is where you’d get concrete strategies and support to knock out all those unmet goals.

This is where you’d have alone time to dream, plan and execute.

This is for all of you exhausted planners, organizers and do-ers.

I’ve got you!

Reply to this email or message me and I’ll send you all of the details.

Or click to register for the The Life Design Retreat.

In summary: Practice weekly reviews. Leverage Thinking Time. Pray. Accept the fact that there’s only so much you can do. Give yourself grace. Make some time for YOU along the way. And, attend The Life Design Retreat with me!

Everything is temporary and transitional.

Make a plan… but hold it loosely.

And register for The Life Design Retreat.

You’ve got this!

Hugs,

Lisa

P.S. I always love hearing from you—feel free to reply to this email to let me know how I can encourage you this week!

P.S.S. And, if you’d like a system to help you know when enough is really enough, The Living Fully Balanced Life Planner is like a life coach in your pocket. This quarterly planner may just be the difference between feeling frazzled and fried and organized and clear.