Do you ever find a hobby that you love only to find it has become more work all of the sudden?
I have.
I feel I am fairly creative. I love to make things, and create things. Its ingrained in my DNA. But everyonce in a while, like a favorite song that is played too often on the radio, or a favite meal savored too frequently, sometimes my hobbies become stale.
And I lose gumption.
And then I start to miss it enough to want to start up again, only to get to the drawing board and not have any lead in my proverbial pencil.
That is the slump I have found myself in most recently.
I love making cards. I love scrapbooking. I love making jewelry. And I love blogging and chatting with online friends.
But lately, even the latter has been hard for me.
Maybe I am too tired. Maybe burn out finally hit me. My IRL friends tell me I havent learned the word "no" yet, and they are sure I will crash soon. I think they were right. And I think it is happening.
I live in a very small town (4800 people). I am very active in the community. I am the Director at our Chamber of Commerce; the Chair of our counties Relay For Life; a Founder/LLC Owner and Board Member of the Club we opened in November; the Chair of a sub committee for a poverty reduction project in our community; the co-chair of a Community Reusable Shopping Bag committee; the co-creator of new educational opportunities in our Business District along side our EDA. Every Tuesday of the month is scheduled with Board Meetings for several of said committees. And now our Annual Community Golf Invitational planning has started again...
And I am finding myself so overwhelmed I can hardly breath.
I have.
I feel I am fairly creative. I love to make things, and create things. Its ingrained in my DNA. But everyonce in a while, like a favorite song that is played too often on the radio, or a favite meal savored too frequently, sometimes my hobbies become stale.
And I lose gumption.
And then I start to miss it enough to want to start up again, only to get to the drawing board and not have any lead in my proverbial pencil.
That is the slump I have found myself in most recently.
I love making cards. I love scrapbooking. I love making jewelry. And I love blogging and chatting with online friends.
But lately, even the latter has been hard for me.
Maybe I am too tired. Maybe burn out finally hit me. My IRL friends tell me I havent learned the word "no" yet, and they are sure I will crash soon. I think they were right. And I think it is happening.
I live in a very small town (4800 people). I am very active in the community. I am the Director at our Chamber of Commerce; the Chair of our counties Relay For Life; a Founder/LLC Owner and Board Member of the Club we opened in November; the Chair of a sub committee for a poverty reduction project in our community; the co-chair of a Community Reusable Shopping Bag committee; the co-creator of new educational opportunities in our Business District along side our EDA. Every Tuesday of the month is scheduled with Board Meetings for several of said committees. And now our Annual Community Golf Invitational planning has started again...
And I am finding myself so overwhelmed I can hardly breath.
I thrive on this kind of stuff. I think I was made to be a community player. But now all of the sudden I find myself skipping meetings. I am blowing off responsibilities until the last minute. I am making promises I am finding I am regretting. And while the projects and committee's don't suffer much - as I am still getting the work done - they aren't necessarily getting the kind of attention I would like to be giving them.
But I can't say no. And I can't seem to let go.
So while I debate getting started on one of my many projects, nothing gets done. And when I decide I am ready to get it done, its all piled on at once. And my friends and family lose me for a while again. And when there is a problem with a friend or a family member I have a hard time giving the issue the time it deserves.
I used to be a type A personality. I could plan and organize circles around most people. I had anal down to a tee, and nothing phased me. So what changed? Why is my life so discombobulated? And did I spell that right? hehehehehehehe And now I am sounding whiney. I should appreciate the opportunities I have been offered. Why oh why am I resenting them more than appreciating them?
I need a spa vacation.
Maybe that will help.
Wanna join me?
I have been reading along, nodding my head, agreeing, agreeing, agreeing. Thinking "WOW! She's a busy one, this Lori!" and pondering how I'm not nearly as busy as you, but I *get* how you find yourself thinking more than doing, etc...."
ReplyDeleteAnd then I got that spa part and it was the only word I could remember!
My luck, I'd be asked to organize a spa retreat for a bunch of women and it would totally defeat the purpose! If, by chance, you figure out some magic to alleviate this problem we have, please let me in!
I am packing and typing at the same time. I am so burned out and over whelmed right now, I am actually getting Oklahoma sick. I never do that, being home sick has never been a problem before. I think work is weighing me down and this is the time of year when people start getting depressed. It's not winter, not spring, just depressing. Don't feel like you're alone, I'm right there with ya!
ReplyDeleteOverwhelmed. That is a word I used often when I lived in Fargo. I was very involved in my church, working full-time, doing Bible studies outside church, running a home-based business, getting together with friends, part of a coordinating a class (took one 3-hr night per week and one meeting per month)...
ReplyDeleteOnce I moved to the Twin Cities, I decided to cut back. We're still a part of our church and a small group, and I host a monthly project night, work part-time and have a home-based business, but I have a lot more time in my life for family. I love it. I hope that you're able to strike a balance that works out well for you.
I got a bit side-tracked on the word "spa" as well. I've never been to one!
What spa are we going to?? I'm all for it...
ReplyDeleteMan, you are definitely involved. I so need some of those things for my resume...if I was smart, I'd have gotten involved in things long ago and had them and I wouldn't be scrambling now when trying to get into grad school...I knew this in job hunting over and over too...sigh...
Thanks guys, glad to know I am not alone.
ReplyDeleteYes, this time of year can do it. I am so hoping that is the cause of this slump because seriously, today I was thinking if I didnt have my assistant I dont know if I would be able to find the bills in that big pile!
I will let you know if I found the magic at the brunch spa you are planning for us!!!