‘Tis The Season Of Exhaustion

Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la.

Hello, lovely! I’m Nospheratt and this is Joy Every Week - a weekly quest to find joy in everyday things. You’re receiving this either because you subscribed or someone forwarded it to you. Enjoy! :)

I’ve been pushing myself pretty hard.

I love the holiday season, and there’s a lot of things I want to do. You know the drill: decorations, cooking, celebrations and gatherings, cards and maybe a few gifts…

I’ve been pushing myself too hard; not stopping, not taking breaks, not doing the things I need to take care of my well-being, my body, my mind, my health.

You probably know where this is going.

I’m not sick — not exactly, anyway. I’m suffering of Pushing Too Hard Until You Break syndrome.

I’m exhausted, feeling all sorts of pains, from my back to my arms to headaches. Brain fog. Sleepiness plus trouble sleeping, which is just all kinds of awesome.

Where’s the joy on that, you may be asking.

First, as I’ve said before, here we acknowledge the hard. Life is not exclusively made of joy, as much as I wish it was.

The Joy of Taking a Fucking Break

Just leaning on a pile of sweaters, chillin’…

And there’s joy to be had in acknowledging when you’ve pushed too hard, and finally fucking taking a break.

Giving yourself permission to stop and rest.

And thinking about how can you keep going — after you’ve had some rest — without pushing yourself quite so hard.

I’m freaking exhausted, my friend. And I hope you’re not, but if you’ve been pushing too much as well, if you’re tired, if you’re at your breaking point: please slow down. Take a break. Breathe.

Figure out how can you lighten your load.

Some possibilities: fewer events. Less shopping, less cooking, less cleaning. Letting go of the expectations of perfection (this last one may be for me 😅). In general, less doing. More being — being still, being content. More quiet, more sleep.

Saying, this is enough. I am enough.

I know it’s not easy, and it may well feel impossible.

But if we manage to let go of expectations, we may actually find a moment of peace and a place for rest.

That’s my wish for you this week: a moment of peace and some rest. 💛

That’s It For Today!

I’m keeping this short and simple because really, I know you need a break as much as I do. Thank you for being here, always. 💚
Until next time. —Nospheratt