Happy Wednesday! Is it just me or is Wednesday sometimes the hardest day of the week? Even though the weeks typically fly by, I still wake up on Wednesdays and feel like the rest of the week looms ahead. That’s a good description for how life feels sometimes. I marvel at how fast the year goes by, but at the same time, it sometimes feels like the year is an endless sea of work. Now don’t get me wrong. I love the work I do. This is the first time in my career that I can say I really love (most of) the tasks I do on a daily basis. But when I say daily I mean daily… sometimes it is seven days a week. It says a lot about my mindset this year that I haven’t updated this blog much. Not only that, but two of that small number have been posts about how to take care of yourself when you’re in a funk, or frustrated, or generally just feeling down. Yep, that’s how I’ve felt a lot this year and I hate it. So, I decided I needed to take active steps to fix my mindset. Now, before I get into what I’ve done, I want to say that if you have concerns about your mental health, you should definitely seek a professional. They’ll know how to give you the best support and care.
I knew that a lot of my frustration was due to certain stressors in my life and while I can’t necessarily change those stresses (or if I do, it’ll create a new set of “issues” that I’d be frustrated about), so I needed to make changes to my lifestyle that would leave me feeling less frustrated. Here are three things I’ve done to help create a positive mindset.
1 // Schedule at least one day off of work each week.
I do freelance work for churches and religious non-profits and I work on staff part-time for a church in the same field, so I usually have a pretty hefty workload. For a while, I had the mindset that I should keep working until the work is finished. The problem is, new things always come up. The work never stops. When I said I work daily, I mean daily. I was working seven days a week and on a few of those days I would work from the time I woke up to the time I went to bed (minus getting ready/a commute, of course). And that’s just not healthy. The only time I would take a day off is when I was so tired I literally couldn’t work anymore. That had to change. I started to schedule at least one day off each week and that has been so helpful for me. I know that I have a day that I can rest and relax, which has eliminated the “all I do is work” mindset I used to have. Sometimes I still put in really long days, but I take advantage of days that I feel more productive and I know I’ll be rewarded with more time off–including shorter workdays–other days.
2 // Stick to a Top 3.
Have you heard of the Top 3? The Top 3 tasks you need to get done that day? It’s supposed to help you create a reasonable to-do list, as long as you create a doable Top 3. (Writing 20,000 words in a day probably wouldn’t be achievable as one task in your Top 3.) At least, that’s my understanding of it.
Whatever it’s official purpose, I’ve been trying to stick to a Top 3 for YEARS. Like, I don’t even know how long I’ve been trying to do this. I’m the queen of unrealistic to-do lists, but I also felt like I wasn’t accomplishing anything. Over the summer I started to bullet journal again. Not the pretty, super detailed kind of a bullet journal; a simple and functional one. I don’t have anything against going all out and decorating a bullet journal. I think they’re so pretty! I just won’t create the spreads I need to create to use it if I plan to do that. I’ve settled into a certain layout for my weekly spread that allows me to see a master to-do list, but only gives me enough space to write in three things to do each day. When I finish the three and have more time, I can look over at my master to-do list and find something else to do, but I end each workday feeling accomplished that I actually crossed off my top 3 (and then some). I only use my bullet journal and Top 3 list for my personal/freelance tasks. I have a different system for the office.
[Tweet “Create a to-do list you can actually accomplish to feel… well, accomplished!”]
3 // Read more.
One thing that would always come to mind when I felt overwhelmed and frustrated is: I don’t even have time to read anymore. So I intentionally started to carve reading time into my day. Sometimes it’s during a break once I’m home from the office and before I start doing freelance work. Sometimes it’s right before bed. Sometimes I need a chapter of a book to help get out of the bed in the morning. And sometimes it’s in the car when I get to a meeting early and have a few minutes, like in the photo above. (So much better than mindlessly scrolling through social media!) No matter when I do it, I feel so much better when I have some time to read each day. It makes me feel more centered and grounded. And more content.
[Tweet “Create time to do something you love every day that will help you feel grounded and content.”]
Maybe you’re not a big reader. (😱) So find something else that you love, something that makes you happy, and something that you often think you don’t have time for. Intentionally create space in your life for whatever it is. It’s totally worth one less scroll through Instagram or one less episode of TV watched to fit it in. I promise.
What are some of the things you do to create a positive mindset? I’d love to know!
[Tweet “Here are three simple changes you can make to encourage a positive mindset.”]
Girl, you are spot on with how I feel on Wednesdays as well! The rest of the week is truly looming ahead…and i’m not a fan haha However, I feel like this post has truly inspired me to make necessary changes in my life. I’m not happy with a lot of things right now, but you’ve really inspired me to make changes in order to be happy! I’m going to encorporate top 3 into my daily life! Thank you for this! xo
One of the hardest things to do as a blogger is take that one day a week off. I don’t log my hours like I do at a traditional job, so I’m ALWAYS working. The burnout is real and brutal at times.
I like the idea of a Top Three. That would help me focus my day better. And three things is totally doable.
I really should try doing a stick to the Top 3. I always try to squeeze in more, and end up losing focus. Thanks for sharing. Will give it a try đ
Totally agree with those changes!
I LOVE this! Wednesdays definitely seem to be a struggle for me. I love the idea of focusing on the top 3 priorities and reading more.
I LOVE this. I usually live life with a positive mindset, but it always helps to have some things to encourage that mindset even more. Your advice on a Top 3 list is wonderful, and I need to try it ASAP. It would change my life in terms of daily to-do lists.
I could definitely spend more time reading as a stress reliever! Great suggestion!
I totally agree with you – a top 3 list is a MUST! Otherwise, it’s so easy to get overwhelmed and do NOTHING! We don’t want that!
Love the top three idea. I also use a basic bullet journal and read as much as possible.
I am not able to take off a whole day a week, but I make a point of taking a few hours off every couple of days. Definitely not where I’d like to be, but as a single mom, it is what it is. Great ideas. I hope I can incorporate them more in my life.
Hey I really enjoyed reading this post. Itâs so important to look after ourselves and be mindful of the important things in life
I LOVE posts that encourage people to live more positive lives! I’ve also found that regular reading brings me happiness, so I try to schedule it in a few times a week!
I love this post!! It’s such a wonderful reminder to check in with ourselves and see how our mindset is doing. Right away, number 1 hit me because I feel like as a blogger, we don’t always stick to a schedule. I feel like I’m “on” almost all the time even if I’m not at my computer. I also have been trying to read more and it just makes me happier!
And, Tuesday is my hardest day of the week. Lol
I need to get back into reading. It’s that time where I can “escape” from reality and work lol
I soooo know how you feel, owning your own business there is literally ALWAYS more work to do. So stressful. I think I need to take your advice and say absolutely NO work on one day.
I love the advice to schedule one day off a week!! Right now with starting my business I feel it is so tough to do, but i bet it would be so beneficial and make me work harder on the days I do work!
Wednesday can totally be a tough day of the week to get through!! I have been reading more this year and just loving it. đ
xoxo A
http://www.southernbelleintraining.com
Being a ministry wife to a husband who is extremely overworked… YES. You need at least one day if not two days off. It’s so needed for you to be at your best.
I agree with this and I love the advice of doing Top 3. I know what it feels like to not feeling like I accomplished anything at the end of the day. I feel more grounded when I avoid the electronics and go outside with my kids.
I have finally gotten good at taking a day off….now to reading more. I have actually cracked a book recently and it was wonderful.
Read more! You cannot be more right. Every time I am overwhelmed my mind always goes to that I can’t sit down and read a book! And that, more than the actual tasks that are overwhelming, always makes me cry. Great ideas here. Everyone should read this.
More reading is definitely something I would like to implement. Since having my son two years ago, finding the time to sit down with a good book has been difficult. Thanks for the motivation.
This is a timely post for me. I really need to force myself to take a day off a week, but it’s so hard. Reading certainly is a huge stress-reliever for me. Exercise is also something that quickly improves my mindset.
I always have a to do list so I wonât forget anything. I also have mini goals to accomplish per week and a checklist!
I need to start taking a day off. Even on the weekend’s I do a little work in the evening. It definitely needs to be on my schedule. Thanks for the reminder!