Take A Breath

So many bookkeepers are great at looking after everyone else's needs, prioritising others over themselves, and we are stressed!

Add to that the fact that we all have sooo much going on in our lives. Personal life and business life are intertwined in so many ways.

It's hard to compartmentalise the two when you're emotionally drained from one or the other or both.

I was coaching a client this week who was berating herself for not being able to focus and to get her work done, but as we talked it became clearer that focus wasn't the issue nor the answer.

In fact it appeared, to me at least, that she was showing signs of burnout.

What she needed, and did, was to acknowledge it as such, and to start implementing better stress coping mechanisms, and better self-care.

Self care is not always about bubble baths and massages.

In fact I'd venture to say that it's rarely bubble baths and massages, although those are definitely lovely.

⚜️ Instead it's about recognising what you need to recharge your batteries and accepting nothing less from the people around you who might question or doubt your needs.

⚜️ It's about sorting your insurances and managing your finances and taking care of life admin because if it doesn't get done it will lead to consequences you don't want.

⚜️ It's about figuring out who and what's important to you and prioritising space for those things before less important things take their place. Putting the big rocks in first so-to-speak.

⚜️ It's about working your way through the niggle list. You know, the annoying little stuff that you notice and it might not be that big of a deal you think, but it interferes with your peaceful mindset so many times, and might in fact be easily fixed. Like replacing a lightbulb, or spraying CRC on a the hinges of a squeaky door, or cleaning the dusty skirting boards.

⚜️ It may be admitting that you are not in fact Superwoman, and that you can't do it all, and start looking to hire a cleaner, or a new team member.

⚜️ Or it could just be that you look up from your desk once in a while, take a deep breath and a long exhale, and congratulate yourself and celebrate how far you've come.

How are you feeling?

How are you feeling really?

What do you need to acknowledge to yourself, or to others, so that you can begin prioritising after your own health and wellbeing - mental and physical.

On World Mental Health Day I want to take this opportunity to remind you to look after yourself. To take a breath. To prioritise your own health and wellbeing. And to ask for help if you need it. You've got this.