Over-Functioning

I keep this blog honest.

I didn’t want to write this week. I’m not going to get into everything I had going on, but I know myself well-enough to know when I’m run down and maxed out.

I’m not writing this post as a way to say, “Look at me being busy.” I may not be busy in comparison to others. I’m writing to encourage us all to be self-aware.

There are tell-tale signs when I feel drained and overwhelmed, but my strongest indicator is the way that I over-function. Instead of slowing down, resting, relaxing, I do MORE. I weirdly take comfort in becoming even more busy with unnecessary things like entering office chili-cook off contests (it was fun though!) or baking Halloween brownies. I will attend more school events and personal events too.

To make matters worse, I will mentally go to extremes as far as my concern for others and my concern for the work. I will over-analyze what may be going on and work through all the scenarios that could be at play, my role or lack thereof, and what I could do to make it better.

And that’s when I usually know to pause. Thankfully. Because often, the person or situation are best served with a pause. Sometimes, follow-up is needed. Too frequently, however, I’m not thinking clearly when I’m in this state and my efforts to help are overkill or dare I say misguided.

I’m sharing this to simply raise awareness and to encourage us all to pay attention to our patterns and to pause before proceeding.

We are human beings not human doings. Let’s pay attention to the role we play in our own misery. And meet ourselves with a little grace too.