Happy Monday, folks! First things first, for those regular readers who inquired – yes, I skipped a few posts last week. I had some tech difficulties, and instead of trying to sort through them in the middle of the week, I decided to wait until the weekend. But we’re back…and just in time for this week’s MMM.
Truth be told, I’m tired. Really tired. The last few weeks have been a bit of a blur. Like most people, spring is a busy time for me. Personal commitments seem to ramp up, my networking calendar is jam packed, and I can’t help but take advantage of the nice weather by hanging out with friends more often….all in addition to keeping up with the regular stuff, like, you know, work. Yesterday, my body decided that enough was enough. I woke up feeling like I had been hit by an 18-wheeler. Have you ever felt so exhausted, that it literally pains you to open your eyes? Yeah, that happened. But, there is no rest for the weary. This week, like those preceding it, is chock full of obligations.
This week’s MMM involves me hitting the road. Again. I’m making a quick trip to D.C. to celebrate a friend’s grad school graduation and marriage. Not one, but two reasons to party? I’m in! I’m eager to see my friend and her new hubby, but I will admit – the thought of the impending four-hour drive to the nation’s capital made me feel even more tired yesterday. So, why am I doing it? Well first and foremost, as I covered last week, human connection is important. Secondly, my newly espoused friend always, and I mean always, supports me. She has been front and center at many of my own celebrations, wielding her camera and grinning from ear to ear. She’s also been there for the not-so-great incidents, offering love and support.
Despite everything I just said, this week’s MMM isn’t really about the road trip or celebrations. It’s more so about dealing with the start of a new week when you’re still tired from the previous one. Twenty-Sixers are almost always over-extended. We’re hard workers, and we often take on much more than we should. Truth be told, we’ll likely always do more than the average person. Why? Because it takes above-average effort to be extraordinary. Not easy…but worth it in the end. But, exhaustion is real. At some point, we all have to make adjustments in our lives because of it. So, what do you do when your “tank” is on empty, but duty still calls?
1. Plan, plan, plan. I’m sure you know by now that I’m an advocate of proper planning. When you’re facing an overcrowded schedule, it is imperative that you spend some time on Sunday assessing what HAS to be done during the week. Take a look at all your obligations and do whatever you can before Monday to help make your week less frantic. Yesterday, I gave up a few hours to work. Wasn’t exactly fun, but it will keep me from having a meltdown by Wednesday.
2. Split the difference. Let’s face it – sometimes it’s simply impossible to get it all done. So, do what you have to, and find a happy medium on everything you simply want to do. For me, I wanted to spend the entire day with my friend, but I knew it would take a miracle and a learjet to do so. So, I’m skipping the graduation and attending a gathering after the fact. It isn’t ideal, but it’s the best I could do. That’s all normal most people really want anyway – our best.
3. Always add a dash of passion. No, I did not just skip over to left field. Ha. What I mean is, be intentional about making time for the things you are passionate about. It will keep you motivated and productive. If at all possible, fill your “lull” periods with things that excite you. If you find it difficult to wake up on time, or lose focus during the midweek slump, those are the perfect times to be attentive to your dreams. Schedule a coffee date before work with someone who might be able to help you get to the next level. Block off an hour on Wednesday for brainstorming. Before I leave D.C., I’ll have a couple of meetings regarding this website. Doesn’t matter what you do, so long as it gets the adrenaline pumping and helps you press forward.
Well, the Interstate calls. Make it a great week!
