Not letting the stress get to you.

Don’t stress is simple, good advice. It’s also really hard to follow.

Frustrated (c) Charlie Balch

Letting things roll off my back is something I learned to do the hard way. I used to stress about everything until I reached the point where I just couldn’t handle that anymore. Looking back from that moment, I finally saw that none of those little things I’d worried myself to death over really mattered. I’d freaked myself out over nothing. A lot.

What I learned to do is pick a handful of things that are important–really, actually important. Everything else can come or go as it pleases.

Except, sometimes, it doesn’t work like that.

Sometimes, if enough little stuff clogs up your life at once you can start to freak out because all you can see if e never-ending line of things you have to do or things about to go wrong.

I had one of those moments yesterday. It wasn’t a ton of fun–I definitely could have done without it–but with a night of sleep I’m a little calmer today. But still, knowing I need to just let things unfold and actually doing it is… hard. The next few months are so jam-packed it seems like the only way to make everything work out the way I want it to is to give up sleep completely. And since that’s not happening (I am an awful person when running on too little sleep), I have to decide whether or not I can live with letting my work in certain areas slide.

Whatever happens, it’ll definitely be an interesting couple of months. Let’s hope I make it to May with sanity intact!

2 thoughts on “Not letting the stress get to you.

  1. Erica Cameron

    It's a theory that works for me in the long term. Family, writing stuff, and health issues are pretty much the only things that will bug me right away. Everything else I try to let slide. But, like I said, some days it's easier than others! 😉

    I've heard about that book, but I haven't read it. It's supposed to be really good, though. Let me know if you get around to reading it!

    Reply
  2. Donelle Lacy

    Lets hope you do too!

    I think it's a good idea to let the little things slide and only concern yourself with larger things, but I've been where you are with a million little things too.

    I think I need to read that book “Don't Sweat the Small Stuff (and it's all small stuff)”. Have you read it?

    Reply

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