One Thing to Accept: Some Days Will Be a Struggle

Nobody is Perfect

So I suppose this blog post is mostly about self-acceptance and not being too hard on yourself. Aiming for utter perfection will only lead to anxiety, depression, and self-loathing. There is no thing as perfection. Social media tells us otherwise, showcasing all the influencers who are doing everything “right.” Remember that what you see on Instagram are tiny snippets of a life. They never show the whole story.

Delegate Life

In one of my favorite motivational books Girl, Wash Your Face (which, by the way, I completely recommend to men as well), Rachel Hollis points out some behind-the-scenes things we never see with successful people: they most definitely do NOT do it all by themselves, and they most definitely DO have help and support. This can come in the form of housekeepers, nannies, personal assistants, personal chefs, personal trainers…you get the idea. “Personal” helpers to take care of tasks that are important to you, but maybe need some outsourcing at various times so you can focus on the priority of the day/month/year.

Let It Go!

I know, you’re thinking “that sounds great if I could actually afford to pay for help!” Here’s the good news: delegation of tasks can happen even without having to pay anyone. Many of us are surrounded by helpers without even realizing it. Discuss with your spouse how they can take on a few tasks to lessen your load and trade off during each other’s busy or stressful times. Find another adult who you can work together with–think carpools, taking turns watching children, or meal swaps. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Most people actually enjoy being asked for help and feeling useful. A second step in asking for help: release control. It’s true that if someone else does it, they may not do it exactly as you would have. Let go of that.

Don’t Beat Yourself Up

Back to those hard days. We all have them, and I don’t know about you but when I’m feeling stressed, it can make healthy decisions much harder. It’s harder to get motivated to work out, harder to pass up the treats sitting out in the break room, harder to muster the energy to cook a nutritious meal. Harder to prioritize yourself in the ways that really count. And guess what? That’s ok! If you skip a workout here and there, or eat a bag of chips instead of carrots, it’s ok. Don’t beat yourself up–that’s just going to make it worse!

Let the Tears Repair

One thing I’ve realized when I’m struggling is that it’s my brain and body’s way of forcing me to slow down. There’s usually a reason I just can’t get motivated to work/think/move/do chores. It’s because I need a break. Taking that rest period can sometimes be the hardest part of all, because most of us do not equate resting with being productive. If we can shift that mindset, we will learn that resting is just as important, if not moreso, than all the “productive” things we do in a day.

A perfect example: if you don’t take rest days between strength workouts, you won’t build muscle. After a strength workout, the fibers of your muscles have micro-tears. It’s the repairing of these tears that make your muscles stronger and bigger. So if you never allow them to rest, you’ll never build muscle. Doing more is actually counterproductive. I love this as an analogy for rest in general: something is “torn” and needs repairing, and envisioning this rebuilding and strengthening going on behind the scenes helps me to sit back and allow it to happen.

Back to resting…

~Nicole

P.S. While I did start this post on a struggle day, I most definitely did NOT finish it that day. If it makes you feel better 🙂