Issue #72: Overcoming the most common excuse that is holding you back from rest.

Get in ya'll! We're pushing past excuses this week!

This week’s issue is made possible by Doing Everyday Well. Shop my collection of toolkits designed to help you push past your excuses and make rest a daily priority.

Photo by Nik via Unsplash. Edited by me

Happy Wednesday friend!

We talk a lot here every week about how to rest. Obviously.

We also talk a lot about the different variables in our lives that often hold us back from making rest a daily priority. Like fear, not setting enough boundaries, the mindset shifts we need to make, and more.

But something I don’t think we talk enough about is how 9 times out of 10…we’re the problem. Actually, the excuses that we make around why we can’t make rest a priority is the problem. As humans, it’s so easy to place the blame on everyone or everything else.

My kids are too small for me to rest.

I have too many clients to rest.

The dog barks too much.

etc.

While yes, outside sources can hold us back a lot, if you sit back and actually think about it, most of the excuses you’re making are probably a load of BS. 🙃

The most common excuse that I often hear (and make) starts with, “If I could just…”

If I could just get past this launch then I’ll rest.

If I could just wait until my kids are a little older then I can rest.

If I could just make a little more money then I could rest.

We “If I could just…” ourselves right into burnout. Why? Because no matter how many times we hit those goals or milestones that we keep promising ourselves will be followed up by rest, another goal comes up. Your kids will never be old enough. The launch will be followed up with another launch or business task. And there will always be more money to be made.

That one little excuse is the beginning of a hustle cycle that becomes extremely hard to break.

So how do you push past this excuse?

First, you admit that you’ve been making excuses. I know those excuses feel legit but it’s probably not.

Second, instead of viewing rest as a reward, shift your mindset to viewing rest as a daily priority in the same way that you view brushing your teeth or eating. Put time for rest on your to-do list. And don’t just tell yourself that you’re going to rest, be specific about what that is going to look like.

Third, protect that time. When you know that you have an important meeting, you make sure that everyone knows about that meeting so that you’re not interrupted. Well, rest is your daily meeting with yourself. Block out your calendar and make it known to those around you so that you can limit interruptions.

And don’t think that I am perfect. A few weeks ago while I was preparing to launch Doing Everyday Well, I kept telling myself, “Once I get this site launched I’ll be able to chill out for a bit.” There were even a few nights that I stayed up late working which I NEVER do anymore. It wasn’t until I looked back at my habit tracker for the month did I realized that I had dropped the ball. So no, making excuses is not an easy habit to break because your mind will do whatever it needs to do to find comfort but being more mindful of what you’re telling yourself helps a lot!

If you’ve been making a lot of excuses around why you can’t rest, inside of the Mindset and Movement toolkit you’ll find a self-coaching exercise that is all about pushing past the excuses that you’ve been making.

Cheers to a restful week!

– Alisha

ICYMI

GOOD FINDS

👩‍👧 I think we all need a little help with this. Here’s some tips on how to thrive as a working mom without neglecting your family. – DVN Oasis

☀️ While you’re Spring cleaning, here are 15 DIY ways to upgrade your home on a budget. – Real Simple

🫂 Do you want to get to know your coworkers better? The founders of SoulCycle think it’s important. – Fortune Well

❤️ Tips on how to care for yourself as you care for an aging family member. – The Good Trade

🤰🏾 Here’s how we can make birth safer for Black moms. - VOX

DON’T FORGET TO BREATHE