You Can Do Everything (But Not All at Once)

After my classes on Tuesday, I was feeling pretty good. I had a full schedule, but don’t worry, it was totally reasonable. I can do everything, after all. I only wanted to be in class all day Tuesdays and Thursdays, turn in problem sets for one class on Mondays, turn in multiple writing assignments on Wednesdays and Fridays, keep up with my Fit U writers, develop blog content, train for a half, spend all day Sunday and all evening Tuesday in yoga teacher training, go to regular yoga classes, sleep, eat, and do a significant amount of reading for three of my four classes. And maybe have time to paint my nails or something.

So, totally confident I could manage this laundry list of tasks in your standard 168-hour week (which reminds me, I also have to do laundry), on Tuesday I signed up for the second round of yoga teacher training.

And yesterday, after long, annoyed, teary talks with my parents, I came to my senses and opted right back out.

It was for the best, but that doesn’t make it easier right now.

I’ve never exactly been the young adult who thinks she’s invincible. Growing up with all sorts of small and large health issues didn’t afford me that luxury. Instead, I’ve been the cautious one who tries to get to bed in good time, eats her veggies, and drives extra carefully. That said, I have always been able to do just about whatever I wanted to do.

You can do everything.

It’s a new year. Maybe you have some new goals or intentions for the year. Good news: You can do them all! If you want to quit smoking, find a new job, eat healthier, exercise more, etc., I totally believe you can. However, if you try to do all those things at once, you will most likely get overwhelmed and then not really do any of them. Take things slow. Pick the one that’s most important to you and just start there.

See, I can graduate with an undergraduate econ degree and go back to school for something entirely different later, or find a job right out of college and never go to school again. I can do a Whole30. I can write a book, keep blogging, and (maybe) run 13.1 miles in a few weeks. I can continue yoga teacher training and going to regular yoga classes and doing well in school

I have options. I can do everything. I was overwhelmed after two days.

I took a quick inventory of what I need to do now and what can wait a little. Well, I’m in school and almost done, and I want to do well. School stays, and is a huge time commitment. If I’m healthy enough, you can bet I’m running the half. The blogging and yoga classes are for my sanity. I can take this round of training at a later date, when I’m not a full-time student at a rigorous university. Much to my dismay, teacher training it is. 

I can’t do it all at once. Realizing that was like a car crash that reminds formerly invincible you that you’re just a human, and you can totally get hurt just going about your daily life. So, I cried, because when you find out you’re just a human, not a wizard or a superhero, it’s always a little bit of a letdown.

When you find out you're just a human, it's a little bit of a letdown. #bgbcommunity #FitFluential Click To Tweet

Still, behind my sadness was a whole lot of relief. What I’m doing now, I’ll do well. And everything else can wait.

Your turn:

Do you tend to take on too much? 

Since this is what’s on my mind, linking up with Amanda today. For a more typical Thinking Out Loud post: Why I’m Doing a Whole30 (and Other Reflections).