If you’re anything like me, you dread cleaning up after a holiday. It always seems like so much to do. Organizing all the gifts we got is always big on my priority level. It’s seriously so important to me because then I can’t clean until I’ve decluttered. Maybe it’s just me but I have been taught you start with surfaces so you can brush them off and then clean the floors.
Some days, I ignore the urge to clean and play video games all day.
Some days, I tackle the things I was putting off.
It’s all about balance, right? I have been a person who never lets myself rest. I constantly felt like I need to be productive because there were always things I could be doing.
When my husband and I were dating, we watched movies and tv all the time! It’s something he loves doing and it was a way for us to spend time together. When we got married and I moved in, it felt like I always needed to be doing the laundry or the dishes or cleaning the bathroom. After several months of this, he finally told me that he didn’t understand the switch. Before I was perfectly content to cuddle and watch tv all evening but now I couldn’t sit still and I was always worried about the next thing to do.
I have since started to be very aware of the amount of pressure I put on myself to get as much done as I possibly can. It’s very mentally draining and so I’ve been able to set realistic standards for myself on how much I can get done in a day.
That being said, those rules still apply during and right after the holiday season! And around any holiday. Expecting yourself to get everything done as efficiently as humanly possible. That’s so not realistic and will lead to tears at best and a deep disappointment in yourself and burnout at worst.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed today, remember that you’re not alone. Whether you had family over or didn’t, or maybe you have a TON of shipping boxes because your family sent the gifts, it can feel like you’re drowning in stuff to do.
These are tips that I use all the time to check in with myself and set realistic standards!
👉🏻 Start small and then check in with your energy.
Are you exhausted? Doing okay? Do you think you could keep going or should you take a step back and maybe sit and do something relaxing for a few minutes? Remember, don’t overdo it!
👉🏻 If after doing one or two of your top priorities you’re feeling good, keep going!
This happens to me a lot! I start before I have the motivation and then before long, getting things done actually was the motivation I needed the whole time! If this happens to you and your energy is following your mind, go for it! Get what you can do and then rest when you need a break!
👉🏻 If you’re really exhausted and feel like you need a break you probably do. Take one! If the cleaning needs to get done today you might want to time your break so you don’t stay in that mode all day.
This has been really helpful for me because in the past I tended to take a break and then talk myself out of the priority task I needed to get done. So when I set a timer, it helps snap me out of it so that I remember that I need to get that thing done. Remind yourself that when it is done, you can take another break!
Even if you only get one or two things done this time, the next time you think about all the things you need to do there will be one or two things that will be crossed off!
You will feel so much better! I know I do when I’ve followed these rules. Do you have any rules for keeping yourself on task while still listening to your energy?