Work, school, family, relationships, kids, household chores, and cooking… our responsibilities just keep piling up. Amid all this, the pressure to perform is often very real. Indeed, not only do we have a lot of tasks to complete in a single day, but we’re expected to be the best at each one. Considering that a day has only 24 hours, I’m going to share some groundbreaking news with you: it’s completely impossible.
I’m very prone to performance anxiety. I always take on way too much—I just can’t say no. At the same time, I want to be the best at absolutely everything. The best mom, the best at work, the best in school, the best at everything. Obviously, perfection doesn’t exist, but I’m constantly striving for it.
Recently, I made a decision that might seem counterproductive in many ways, but I made this decision for myself. Out of two college courses, I dropped one. Between my full-time job, my responsibilities as a mom, and my personal well-being, I had way too much on my plate. I lightened my load to choose MYSELF. There were only two months left in the semester, and some people judged my choice. However, I know I made the right decision for myself—to take care of my still-fragile mental health; to take care of my children, whom I missed; to take care of my relationship, which was going through a rough patch; to take care of myself; to choose MYSELF.
Today, I want to tell you just one thing.
You have the right.
You have the right to choose yourself.
Your mental health comes first. Before performance, before the pursuit of perfection, before anything else.
Your well-being comes first.
Do you need to prioritize yourself today?
Are you at peace with your current schedule?
Do you take a little time for yourself every day?
Does just looking at your calendar cause you anxiety?
Could you benefit from slowing down a little?
Take your answers and start thinking deeply about your life. If needed, don’t hesitate to slow down. Slowing down doesn’t mean failing. Slowing down means choosing yourself, and there’s nothing more beautiful than loving yourself enough to make that choice.
Today, choose yourself—slow down.