I had two people tell me this week that I was too busy, needed to slow down and take care of myself. Honestly it hurt my feelings a little bit. This year has been one of prioritizing and culling. I have fewer obligations now than I’ve had in a very long time. I will admit, moderation is hard; I’m an all or nothing kind of person. But if this year has taught me anything, it’s that I must balance my time and make sure that the important things get prioritized.

But it did make me stop and think about why they would say that. A friend of mine pointed out that I am always multitasking and going full throttle no matter what I’m doing. That’s a very true statement. I don’t like to waste time or goof of when there is a task to be completed and I always want to get things done the most efficient way possible. My brain never slows down as I am in problem solving mode most of the time. So even though I have cut my commitments way down, I always seems to be wide open because whatever I am working on means I’m all-in.

Yesterday I woke up with a low fever, lots of drainage, and my ears hurting. I took a shower, put my pajamas back on, downed some Nyquil and went back to bed. Today, I am doing the same, well, minus the Nyquil. I am in my recliner, in my pajamas, resting and leisurely working on some writing assignments. After having no choice but to be still, I see now why my older friends told me I needed to slow down. Even when I am at home, I am always on the go. This is the first time in months I remember sitting for this amount of time.

Sitting still and resting is hard. Even today, I’m staying busy, checking items off my writing to-do list. To simply sit and put my brain in an idle mode is next to impossible.  The next writing idea is always forming in my mind or I’m trying to figure out the next step in the house building project. Around Christmas, I always think about crafty projects I never have time for or activities I want to do with the kids. Even as I am writing this, I am checking emails on my phone, answering messages on Facebook, and taking phone calls. Maybe there is some truth to my wiser friends’ observations. Maybe I do need to reevaluate and slow down the multitasking. Maybe I can do better at taking care of me.

How about you? Are you taking care of you? We won’t be any good to the rest of the world if we neglect ourselves. Let’s do a better job.