Do One Thing

Hello Mermaids!

I originally wrote and published this blog in April of last year. At that time, my depression, anxiety and PTSD was at an all time high and it took everything I had just to get from one day to the next. As women we tend to have a very hard time slowing down and giving ourselves the grace of healing and recovery. I hope that as Mother's Day weekend is upon us this gives you a little grace to take care of yourself so that you can live your best life!

xoxo

~Julie

What do you do when you’re a highly driven, productive person and major life stress (I’m not talking about the ordinary life stress, I’m talking about the soul-rocking kind of stress that shakes you to the core of your being and makes you second guess just about everything) takes it’s toll on you, leaving you exhausted, weary?

I have learned…being that “highly driven, productive person” who has been rocked by life-changing events…that sometimes there are things you can’t just “push through.” And I am highly skilled at “pushing through.” Some might say I’m an expert. With the help of a lot of people in my corner of the ring, I have learned that sometimes life rocks you so hard you just have to…be still. Sit. Wait. Rest. Recover. Recharge your batteries.

We all have different levels of tolerance when it comes to the “big” stresses – whether the stress you’re facing is post partum depression, divorce, caring for an ill parent/child/relative, grieving the death of a loved one, loss of a job, major parenting challenges, relocation, etc – sometimes the overwhelm and magnitude of the situation catches up with us and our bodies, our minds, our souls just can’t take any more. And as I have grown weary over the years of the heavy stress, I recently got some very helpful advice from a client who also happens to be my doctor and friend that I trust very much.

“Do one thing”, she told me, “just pick ONE thing to accomplish every day.

Doesn’t have to be big but only one thing.”

It seems simple. Old me would have laughed her out of the room – “what do you mean, ONE thing?! I can easily accomplish at least one hundred and fifty-three before the day is out. The more on my plate, the better. I’m so efficient that way.” But today’s me was relieved…”yeah, I can do that. I can do ONE thing.” And then the great part is when you set out to do ONE thing and you actually do twelve, you feel like a highly productive individual, which is exactly what the over-achiever in me wants to feel like.

I never really imagined myself in this position…where doing ONE thing would be my goal for the day, where simply putting one foot in front of the other would require every ounce of energy I could muster. Sometimes life does that and the only way out is through and giving up, quitting the game, is not an option. So we have to figure out the best strategies for coping to get through with as much sanity as possible. Take a step back. Take as much off your plate as possible. Focus on the necessities and reprioritize. Anyone can do ONE thing…doesn’t have to be big…just ONE thing.