If my memory serves me correctly, it was a white rabbit in ‘Alice in Wonderland’ that said, “The hurrier I go, the behinder I get!” What a wise remark that was. I’ve been there, and it’s likely that many of you have also experienced the same thing. But truly, what is the rush?
Have you ever overslept and got a late start? This tends to make your heart pound and perhaps you feel some panic. Not a good way to start your day! Many times we may rush out the door and forget things we might need, which only adds to our stress. Been there; done that! I’ve even had to circle the block to make sure I’ve closed the garage door; I’ve also called a neighbor to check on that for me a few times because time just didn’t permit me to circle the block. FRUSTRATING!
How do you feel when you’re on the highway and the driver behind you is pushing you to speed up? Doesn’t that provoke and irritate you? What’s the rush? Did their day begin by oversleeping too? Or does today’s world just have us all pushing to get things done in a hurry?
I read something recently that said “Rushing to get things done is a death wish; maybe that’s where the term ‘deadline’ came from! That certainly gave ME some ‘food for thought’!
I looked around my office space the other day and decided it needed a few changes. I decided that if my desk was cleared off and better organized, it would be much easier for me to locate things, and that would result in me getting my work done more efficiently. Piles of junk mail had mounted up. Why hadn’t I just trashed it immediately? Probably because I was in a rush to get started on my work and multi-task by throwing in a load of laundry and thinking about the next meal to be prepared! While working from home can be convenient, we can also become distracted performing other tasks at the same time.
As my office reorganization plan took shape, I realized that this was NOT going to be a one-day job. It’s looking better, but I had to prioritize and postpone some final shuffling for another day when I had a little more free time to do it right. If you’ve ever been in the same predicament, remember that ‘Rome wasn’t built in a day’ – a phrase encouraging us to be patient and not rush what we do.
How many times can you recall saying “I just don’t have enough time”? If that’s the case, then you’re probably rushing, and that will trigger mistakes to occur, lessen your focus and quality of work, AND, lumped together, it will increase your stress levels as well.
Many of us are guilty of putting too much on our plate. Filling our plates too full is not just bad for us when we eat too much; it produces the same result when we take on too many commitments or create a to-do list that is much too long for our time frame. In either situation, we may simply be unable to swallow and digest it all … and certainly if we then put a rush on things, that won’t help either! Our days were not meant to be a race to the finish line! We would all do well … feel more relaxed and mentally and physically calm, and more motivated … if we slowed down a little and reminded ourselves that stepping back for a few moments to relax isn’t just meant to be enjoyed on vacation but should be built into our daily routine. Pace yourself; you’ll be more engaged in your efforts and do a much better job with less tension!
Quote of the Week: “Slow down and enjoy life. It’s not only the scenery you miss by going too fast; you also miss the sense of where you are going and why!” ~ Eddie Cantor
