A lil' story about checkpoints...
We are all running some kind of endurance race right now. It’s not even a race, because there is no end in sight. At least with a race you know there is a finish line. Here we are just running non-stop. It’s exhausting.
When I gave birth to my 2nd child, it was at home and my first non-medicated birth. It was very uncomfortable at times. The most intense part was right before he was born, when I felt I couldn’t do it anymore. I exasperatedly asked my midwife, “how many more pushes?” She said 6 more. I did it in 3. When I saw the end, it empowered me to channel that energy and finish strong.
When there is no end in sight it feels like it will go on forever and it takes so much more of our energy to keep on.
Covid/Lockdown/Online school WILL eventually end, and life will return to some state of normalcy again, however this is not in our power right now, it's not something anyone can really control.
To take our power back and do things that ARE in our control, we can give ourselves some checkpoints.
Checkpoints aka; things to look forward to and get excited about.
I do this when doing hard things like running up a big hill - I say when I get to that post, I’ll walk for 10 seconds. Getting there takes all the work, but having that little bit of rest helps me to keep going immensely.
Maybe a checkpoint for you is ordering takeout, or having an evening where you can do whatever you want all by yourself no distractions. Or maybe your checkpoint is a guilt-free movie marathon on the weekend. Whatever it is, give yourself some checkpoints and honour what you need. Otherwise you may end up burning out along the way.
So tell me, what are some of your checkpoints?
All the love to you,
Jen xo
ps. My final note is to all the high achievers out there….
Honour yourself for where you’re at. Don’t be too hard on yourself. If you are used to accomplishing a lot and right now and you’re not, then please give yourself some grace. This is tough stuff and we need to be ok with doing less right now.