Summer Holidays
Sometimes it's ok to do nothing at all.
The summer holidays are over, my daughter goes back to school on Wednesday and life returns to normal. I have had the best summer that included a holiday to Crete, visit to family in Scotland, days out, family time and lots of fun. For the first time since I started my business, it wasn’t stressful. Normally summer holidays are about juggling childcare, work, quality time with my family, guilt and gin. This year I did it differently (still had the gin), I cut back on the hours I was working, went on holiday and put the out of office on, switched my phone off and finally got the balance right. I didn’t make as much money as normal, but I did make some wonderful memories.
The first 6 months of this year were the busiest months I have had yet, juggling everything was incredibly hard, feeling like I needed to be superwomen and be everything my clients and family needed me to be. I was tired from working long hours and not enough me time. Taking a step back has allowed me to re-evaluate my life and give me the head space I have been needing. I’m ready to return to work, full of energy, new ideas and a determination to make sure that from now on, I remember to look after myself and that it is ok to say no sometimes.
We forget that life is for living, it’s not about how much money you have in the bank, or how successful your business is, family, laughter and love is what is important. So if you are reading this now and are feeling stressed or rundown, why not remember what it was you used to love doing? That long forgotten hobby or interest, dancing with your children, going for a run or having a bath with your favourite book. You deserve some me time.
My favourite memory of the summer was lying on a sun bed in Crete, lazily watching my daughter jump into the pool shouting cannonball and laughing loudly as she did so. The look of happiness on her face and the twinkle in her eyes, is something that will stay with me. You miss these moments, when you have to work, or are doing the mundane tasks that are part of life. I find myself often saying I’m too busy, even when resting I always feel like I should be doing something. I think we should give ourselves permission sometimes to do nothing and just be present and most of all stop letting life pass us by.