Comments on: Being busy is not a badge of honour

By: Molly

Molly — Wed, 11 Jun 2014 19:12:22 +0000

I know what you mean – I think sometimes being pregnant makes you want to prove a point to others that you’re able to keep on, even though you’re knackered and have a big old bump and just want to sit down for 5 minutes. Or maybe that’s just me…

By: Molly

Molly — Wed, 11 Jun 2014 19:11:27 +0000

I think I’m probably like your husband – and I hate it! My husband is SO good at switching off and doing nothing. I often joke that he’s lazy but I envy his ability to zone out and I’m sure he is a far less stressed person because of it.

By: Molly

Molly — Wed, 11 Jun 2014 19:10:14 +0000

I think so many of us are so used to being busy that we don’t know how to be still any more. I include myself in that category! I have to physically force myself to do something like read a book, or potter in the garden without checking my phone or constantly feeling like I need to be “on”. You’re not alone there. Mind you, you do sound like you have enormous amounts of energy – I want some of what you’ve got!

By: Kerrie McGiveron

Kerrie McGiveron — Mon, 09 Jun 2014 11:34:41 +0000

This is a great post. I am constantly busy (not saying that in a I want a medal way!) but it is all of my own choosing. I hose to have three children, do a degree and work and blog and everything else. Sometimes I am TOO busy and my mind races from one thing to the next. It is nothing to wear like a badge.
However, I have had a couple of weeks off work, and it is my summer off uni. And my word – I am BORED. Despite having three kids to run around after and a house to sort, and still blogging – I am fed up. I think my business may have become me.
I don’t know if this is a good or a bad thing. Excellent post, gets you thinking doesn’t it

By: Sarah MumofThree World

Sarah MumofThree World — Mon, 09 Jun 2014 09:35:56 +0000

Such a good post. With three big kids and a house to run, a fledgling freelance career and a blog I spend far too long on, I’m always busy too. The kids always need taking to clubs or help with homework. The short time they’re at school is taken up with freelance work and housework, the hours before they get up is taken up with blogging. Sometimes I give myself a break – a walk or a read or even a whole day off. But I daren’t admit it to my husband because he thinks we should be busy all the time!

By: Kerry

Kerry — Mon, 09 Jun 2014 09:11:36 +0000

I’m guilty of this too. I feel like I’m failing when I can’t keep up with all of my responsibilities, but it’s not best for me or my baby to keep pushing myself whilst pregnant.

I’m going to try to get as many of my jobs done as poss in the first half of the day and then try to take it easier after the school run. I prepped dinner before taking my daughter to school this morning so that I don’t have to do it when I’m shattered later in the day.

Good luck with slowing down and be sure to post your tips for getting rest in pregnancy. I could do with some of those!

By: Carie

Carie — Sat, 07 Jun 2014 06:48:05 +0000

Oh that’s so very true – and I think it’s probably universally true for any of us who try to combine parenting with anything else (so that’s all of us then!). I work part time and I know I feel a pressure to perform well at work to show that part time is still an OK thing to do and that it doesn’t mean I’ve stepped back or should be disregarded or anything, and then at home I want to make up for being away from the girls and make sure that we’re still bringing them up the way we want to, and at times it’s brutally exhausting (like when you find yourself emailing things to work at gone 1am more than one night a week!), and then I have to force myself to trust that the girls are fine and trust that work notice and appreciate me – and then go and get some sleep!

By: Molly

Molly — Fri, 06 Jun 2014 12:35:40 +0000

I’m exactly the same. I put myself under pressure too. I think it’s about recognising what things you enjoy and what things you need to do, at least it is for me. For example, I like being out in the garden, growing veg etc. So I need to factor that in to “down time” and not feel bad for doing that over something else like blogging or working etc. I love blogging too, but I know what you mean about it sometimes sucking you in. Difficult to get the balance right sometimes isn’t it?! xx

By: Charlotte - Write Like No One's Watching

Charlotte - Write Like No One's Watching — Fri, 06 Jun 2014 12:22:24 +0000

Loved this Moll. I am so guilty of this and it often leads me to wonder if my own ‘definition’ of my personal success is what gets me feeling so burnt out. I do think that my blog is a particular area of my life that I could cut back on, but I enjoy it so much. Sometimes I’ll feel guilty because I’ve not watered tomatoes or played enough with the cats, when I finally get to bed at night and I realise how much pressure I put on myself. It’s so silly. And we do work hard. But surely that means we’re more deserving of a break than ever? Loved this. And love that you and bump are both okay. That’s the most important thing. xxx