Monday, May 16, 2011

Learning To Let Go & Relax

One month in, and it’s already official. This semester of grad school is off to an even crazier start than the last one!

But although my schedule is as demanding as ever, the publishing courses this time around – marketing strategies and production management – are more closely in line with my interests. The professors’ styles are also very interactive and project-based, which creates more work overall, but also helps each three-hour class pass by much more quickly and interestingly.

Even better, I’m doing my best to improve at setting boundaries in other areas of my life, no longer trying to frantically respond to emails and edit material during our class breaks. Instead, I now typically use the time to take a quick walk outside or down to Starbucks, chatting with my classmates and knowing that the rest of the world will still be there three hours later for me to respond to.



As you can imagine, this is sometimes a challenge for me – someone used to being constantly connected and who has trouble relaxing even when she does have the chance – mostly because I think about all the things I “should” be doing.

Though it may sound crazy, my hectic schedule has led me to crave being able to constantly check things off my to-do list, and I often feel anxious when I can’t respond to every email the minute it comes in, or when I have unfinished tasks leftover that I’d hoped to complete before the end of the day. But, since I know it’s not healthy to go through life feeling continuously on edge, I’m doing all that I can to change my ways, taking time to focus on and appreciate the small, quiet moments in life, no matter how few or far between they may be.

Will I be able to change overnight? Definitely not. But who knows? In the end, if I keep this up, I just may make it through this whole grad school while working thing without going insane after all!

Do you ever find you have a hard time relaxing or being “disconnected”? Which techniques do you use to help you unwind?

(Photo Credit: domarcenter.com)

12 comments:

  1. You and I are very similar! I always feel the need to check email the second it comes in. It got really bad for awhile, so now I don't let myself check work email over the weekend. It's a baby step, but it's already made a huge difference. Good for you for setting boundaries!

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  2. I feel the exact same way!! I do what Kim does...all though I check my email at least once over the weekend, especially if I work on Monday mornings. But I am trying to find that perfect balance between working, my on line business and my family.

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  3. I know EXACTLY what you need with the constant need to check off my to-do list...its almost difficult to not have one! I'm taking this summer off from classes and hoping it'll let me learn to relax and not crave the craziness!

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  4. haha you and I have the opposite problem.My husband is like you always connected through technology, me.... not so much. I get home and emails and such are put out of mind.

    hang in there!

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  5. i am the same way. i always have to feel connected to my email or texts and stuff. it's addicting! it's funny though how if you go on a mini vacation (camping for the weekend or something) and have no signal where you're at, you don't miss your phone/laptop at all and really begin to let loose and enjoy yourself. good luck on trying to be a little more disconnected! you can do it!

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  6. I'm very similar, especially at work, I sit with my email open all day and feel the need to read/respond to emails as soon as they come in which just adds stress. I'm better about being more disconnected when I'm at home though which is good.

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  7. Mr. Milk is totally like this! Its hard for him not to answer the phone or respond to emails. He feels more at ease when he knows things have been checked off. It definitely takes effort to disconnect so good luck with it!

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  8. i feel the same way!! i am backing off of social media, using twitter once a day, scheduling my tweets, and making time for real life.

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  9. Good for you! I know it can be hard, I'm the same way in that I'm constantly on email. I've now gotten to the point now though where I'm still very connected during the week, but I'm making a real effort to take a step away from the computer on the weekends. It's refreshing!

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  10. i know what you mean about feeling the need to be connected and in constant contact with people. but i've noticed that once the weekend hits, it's easy to just relax and have "me" time. hope you enjoy focusing on you :)

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  11. Congrats on your new classes and trying to find time to just go with the flow and relax a little. I think with all of the technology we have today it can sometimes be difficult to remember how to enjoy the simple things. Or even with all of the things we try to put on ourselves to try and do in one day can be overwhelming. Sometimes I just step away from the computer and enjoy the time with my family and try and forget about the rest of it, the emails, the blogs, twitter, and facebook. It will still be there tomorrow like you said. <3


    PS You are an amazing woman!

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  12. ditto what everyone else said..I'm the same way!

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