Yesterday was one of those days where I just really needed some time to myself to do whatever I wanted. The need was so strong that the workday couldn’t end fast enough. It had been nearly two weeks since I truly had some time to myself.
So when I got home. I heated up some left overs for dinner and glued myself to the couch. I watched TV for nearly 3 hours with zero guilt. It was what I needed, and I’m not ashamed of it.
I’m probably the worst at being hard on myself for not being in action and constantly striving or working on something. Our culture almost demands it now. We celebrate those who work themselves 24–7.
To be honest, I celebrate those folks too. I am fascinated with people who truly have the drive to keep going, and are constantly improving.
One of my favorites of such people is Tom Bilyeu. I heard him say more than once that if he’s awake he’s either working or working out. I also heard him say that he will never burn out because he has enough self-awareness to know when he needs to rest. It’s because of this that he’ll take a random day off during the week to chill. He also mentioned how he takes most Saturdays to unplug from work and hang out with his wife.
I guess the message here is that it’s a balance. We gain fulfillment by working hard and doing the things that help us to be our best selves. And we also need to make sure we give ourselves enough rest. Because rest also helps us to be our best selves.
If any of this has you thinking about your own balance, keep in mind that it’s different for each person. What feels like balance for one person might not be the same for someone else. Listen to your body and do what feels right. And remember to be kind to yourself; we’re all just figuring it out.
