Finding Your Rhythm

No, this isn't a post about music... though the title would suggest otherwise.  This is a post about finding your rhythm.  You could translate that into everyday life OR blogging.  I've been noticing a pattern in myself: anytime I go through a big change, I have a hard time finding my footing.  When I found out I was pregnant last year, it was unexpected and sort of shook my foundation.  It's not that I didn't end up being terribly excited about it, it was just something that was creating a huge change in my world.  Now while we are settling into this house (which is a temporary situation, but more on that another day), I'm finding it difficult to slide back into my daily routines AND blogging routines.  I currently feel a lack of focus, motivation, and organization.  I WANT these things, and I don't lack the drive... it's like I can't make myself focus enough to achieve them.  Part of that is this busy time of year, but I know the other one comes from being a bit of a creature of habit whose familiarities have been turned upside down.

There are ways to cope with this.  Right?  Of course.  Being an adult is all about learning to cope with uncomfortable situations... or I should say MY adult life requires a lot of learned coping techniques. 

Lately I have been writing things out even more than I used to.  I know a lot of you are list makers so you're like "what? I already do that."  I mean EVEN MORE lists.  My phone notes and notebooks right now are showing my crazy side just a little.  It's helping me stay on track for the day, return emails in a more timely manner (whew), and reminding me to feed myself at appropriate times so I don't get too hangry.

I've also been forcing myself to stop feeling guilty when I can't complete everything I intend to.  If we were to have a conversation about expectations of myself vs. reality, you would realize that I obviously don't live in this dimension.  I live in some parallel universe where there are four Katies.  I know a lot of you are like that, too-- people who not only have great intentions, but also have the weight of guilt when you can't accomplish something, or feel too bad to say no when it comes to friends and loved ones.  Which leads me to...

(If you have the source, please, please let me know.)

Saying no when you need to.  This is something I've been practicing for the better part of the year and it's still hard!  I am the great over-extender and it makes me miserable sometimes.  Are any of you like this?  Am I the only crazy out there who over-extends herself to the point of absolute exhaustion?!  That was a rhetorical question.  Of course I'm not.  We all do it and we need to get better at taking care of ourselves... oh, and taking care of yourself is NOT a selfish act!  (There's that guilt again.)  I'm not very nice or nurturing when I've had 3 hours of sleep and I feel like I'm carrying the weight of two worlds on my shoulders.  No one in my life is being properly loved when I'm like that.  No one benefits.

I guess if we are beginning to plan out New Years resolutions for the coming year, I'd say that all of these things are still at the top of my list.  I'll throw some easy ones in there too so I don't feel like a total failure when the next big change comes along and I'm huddled somewhere in a corner with my face in my hands.  I'm an adult work-in-progress.  Now, if you were to judge my progress as a person by children's standards, I'd be pretty ace.  Seriously.  I'm great at naps, temper-tantrums, and snack time.  Impressed?  ;)

Have a great day and thanks for reading, friends.  Especially today.  xoxo Katie