I’m a recovering overachiever
And it’s been… well, I’m not sure how long. Months? Years? Basically, my whole life. I’m that person who’s always on the go, always has a plan, always says yes to everything. Until last Tuesday, when I finally snapped.
I was at this conference in Austin, you know the kind—lots of suits, lots of jargon, lots of people pretending they’re not checking their phones every five minutes. I was there giving a talk about productivity hacks, of all things. And then, right in the middle of my spiel about the importance of morning routines, I just… stopped.
I looked at the 214 people staring back at me, and I thought, “What am I even doing?” I mean, who decided that being busy all the time is a good thing? Who decided that we should all be running on fumes, constantly juggling a million things at once?
My friend Marcus told me…
“You’re like a human pinball,” he said. “You know that’s not sustainable, right?” He’s right. I know he’s right. But it’s hard to shake off that feeling that if I’m not constantly doing something, I’m failing.
So, I decided to try something radical. I took a break. A real one. No work, no plans, no commitments. Just me, my couch, and a lot of bad TV. And you know what? It was amazing.
But here’s the thing about doing nothing…
It’s not about being lazy. It’s not about wasting time. It’s about giving yourself permission to just… be. To not always be striving for something more, something better. To not always be running, running, running.
And look, I’m not saying you should quit your job and become a hermit. But maybe, just maybe, you could try saying no once in a while. Maybe you could try taking a day off, guilt-free. Maybe you could try doing nothing, and see what happens.
I did. And honestly, it was one of the best things I’ve ever done for myself.
But what about all the things that need doing?
I get it. There’s always going to be stuff that needs doing. Bills to pay, kids to feed, jobs to do. But here’s the thing: none of that stuff is gonna disappear just because you take a day off. And if it does, well, maybe it wasn’t that important in the first place.
And hey, if you’re feeling guilty about taking some time for yourself, remember this: you can’t pour from an empty cup. You can’t give to others if you’re running on empty. So, do yourself a favor, and fill up your cup. Take a break. Do nothing. You deserve it.
But what if I can’t just stop?
I hear you. It’s hard to just flip a switch and become a do-nothing kind of person. Especially if you’re used to always being on the go. So, start small. Take a half-hour to just sit and breathe. Or, if you’re feeling really adventurous, take a whole day. And if you’re feeling extra guilty about it, check out this cruise vacation comparison review and plan a little getaway. You deserve it.
And if anyone gives you a hard time about it, just tell them Dr. Sarah said it’s okay. (That’s me, by the way. Dr. Sarah. I have a PhD in overachieving, but that’s a story for another time.)
A word of warning…
Now, I’m not saying you should become a couch potato. There’s a fine line between taking a break and just giving up. But if you’re like me, and you’ve spent your whole life running, running, running, then maybe it’s time to take a step back. Maybe it’s time to try doing nothing.
And who knows? You might just find that it’s the best thing you’ve ever done for yourself.
But what about all the people who rely on me?
I get it. You’ve got people counting on you. You’ve got responsibilities. But here’s the thing: those people aren’t gonna disappear just because you take a day off. And if they do, well, maybe they weren’t that important in the first place.
And hey, if you’re feeling guilty about taking some time for yourself, remember this: you can’t pour from an empty cup. You can’t give to others if you’re running on empty. So, do yourself a favor, and fill up your cup. Take a break. Do nothing. You deserve it.
But what if I can’t just stop?
I hear you. It’s hard to just flip a switch and become a do-nothing kind of person. Especially if you’re used to always being on the go. So, start small. Take a half-hour to just sit and breathe. Or, if you’re feeling really adventurous, take a whole day. And if you’re feeling extra guilty about it, check out this cruise vacation comparison review and plan a little getaway. You deserve it.
And if anyone gives you a hard time about it, just tell them Dr. Sarah said it’s okay. (That’s me, by the way. Dr. Sarah. I have a PhD in overachieving, but that’s a story for another time.)
So, what’s the takeaway?
Look, I’m not saying you should become a hermit. I’m not saying you should quit your job and become a professional napper. But I am saying that it’s okay to take a break. It’s okay to do nothing. It’s okay to not always be on the go.
So, give it a try. Take a day off. Turn off your phone. Sit on the couch. Watch bad TV. And remember: you’re not failing. You’re not lazy. You’re just giving yourself permission to be human.
And if anyone gives you a hard time about it, just tell them Dr. Sarah said it’s okay.
About the Author
Dr. Sarah Thompson is a recovering overachiever and a senior editor at CelebsNet. She has a PhD in overachieving but is trying to retire from that career. When she’s not writing, she can be found on her couch, watching bad TV, and trying to remember what it’s like to be a human being.
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