By: Lia Miller
Life is busy, and sometimes, that makes it messy. We all wear many hats and often find ourselves taking on many roles. But, at what point do we say enough is enough?
Do you ever find yourself awake at night because you feel anxious about all the things you have to do. The “to-do” list is playing over and over in your head and you feel as if you are about to lose your mind.
Have you ever found yourself in a situation and wondered why am I doing this or why am I spending time on this? If you are like me, such things didn’t happen overnight. Rather, they represent an accumulation of manageable concerns that, over time, have piled up and become unmanageable.
If you haven’t had your “moment of clarity,” here are some tell-tale signs that you are doing too much.
Regular Exercise Just Ain’t Happenin’
Were you once a gym rat? Did you get out and run/walk/bike consistently a few times a week?
For the overwhelmed, the first thing off their plate when too much is going on is exercise. And truthfully, setting aside that trip to the gym in favor of something else is occasionally necessary.
But if you aren’t diligent in your pursuit, you fall out of the habit and that won’t be good for you or anyone in your family.
Drop some items off the to-do list, so you can get back on track and return to a more manageable work load.
Healthy Eating – You Wish!
After a hectic workday, it is no fun coming home to a huge list of household chores. As such, it can be pretty easy to replace a healthy home cooked meal with a greasy fast food deal.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m not knocking the pizza guy showing up at your house off and on. But, unless you curb your fast food habit, especially if you’ve already nixed exercising, you’re setting yourself – and your family – up for an earlier than planned “retirement.”
Stress Is Impacting Your Health
You are definitely under stress If you experience the following symptoms regularly:
- headaches
- fatigue
- aches and pains
- chronic cold-like symptoms
- insomnia
- weight gain
- hair loss
- irritability
- lack of patience
- become easily frustrated
- feel overwhelmed or like you are drowning
- lose focus easily and have become forgetful
If this sounds like you, then you’ve reached the point where you need to make a change.
After all, as the great Count Rugen in the Princess Bride says, “If you haven’t got your health, you haven’t got anything.”
Hobbies Are Non-existent
If your hobbies have been replaced by the laundry, errands, cooking, and cleaning, chances are you are doing too much.
In general, people prioritize things they “must do” over things they “want to do” and sometimes “it is what it is;” but if you let life pass you by without doing the things you love and are energized by, it is a clear sign you are doing too much. After all, what is life without time to pursue and enjoy the things you love to do?
You Are Constantly Running Late
We all run late from time to time – the alarm didn’t go off, the train/bus was delayed, we’re stuck in traffic, or a meeting ran long. But if you are perpetually running from place to place and are late to every event, you are doing too much.
You either need to dial things back, learn to say no, or learn to strategically manage your time. The danger here is that while you are trying to accommodate everyone and get to every meeting, your lateness can be perceived as unreliability or lack of respect.
If this is your world, then you are clearly sending the opposite of the message you desire to convey.
BMWK, are you doing waaaay too much?
Lia Miller, known to the blogging world as Lia World Traveler, is the quintessential every-woman, a loving wife and mother, daughter, sister, friend, author/singer/song-writer, movie and book buff, DIY loc’d naturalista, food lover, sports and fitness enthusiast, news junkie, traveling fool, diplomat, diversity/social inclusion advocate, and life-time learner. In both her work and private lives, Lia has seen a lot and done a lot and through her writing; she shares her adventures and insights with you at Life As I See It.