Is it just me or does every day go by faster than the day before?
Remember when it seemed like *forever* before your birthday or summertime?
And the cost of everything is going up. And I am betting more people are making bigger demands on your time and energy.
Do you have enough in reserve?
Let’s talk about time. Do you structure your day with a “swiss-cheese” calender?
With holes of open time where you can pause and pet the cat for a while – or deal easily
with the unscheduled crisis?
Let’s talk about money. Do you now or are you planning to have an emergency fund for broken hot water heaters and emergency veterinarian
trips? Do you have money saved for those bills that come in annually or semi-annually like malpractice or car insurance?
Let’s talk about energy. How many hours of sleep do you get? How is your diet? Do you exercise in a way that gives you more energy?
If you find yourself saying “no” to some of the questions above, then it is definitely time to increase your reserves.
If your teapot is empty – there is no tea to drink or to share. If the car is out of gas or oil, it will not run. It is magical thinking to believe otherwise.
You deserve to have the perfect life. What do you need to do to begin to increase your reserves?
What will be your first step?
I look forward to hearing your thoughts in the comment section below!
Until Next Time,
Casey
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Although I am delighted to consult with and support people through my work, to stay balanced I must set clear boundaries in my personal life. This requires that I recognize when the process of supporting someone requires more time and energy than I have to give.
Towards that end, I have been stepping back from some personal relationships that are not working for me. Although it’s great to be there for a friend or family member in their time of need, I think we all know people who are energy drains and seem to thrive on drama.
In this current economic climate, we are all being called to grow and stretch in ways that are not comfortable. By re-claiming my energy reserves though letting go of relationships which no longer work, I find I have more time for the essentials, like money management, getting to bed at a decent hour, thoughtful food preparation, and exercise.
Hi Casey!
Wow-what a relevant topic. 2 things are problems for me. #1 SLEEP
Because I have evening clients, I end up getting home many nights at 9 p.m. or later. It takes me several hrs. to wind down. This is complicated by my being a night owl, living alone, and losing track of time making art, watching a movie, etc. If I don’t go to bed before midnight, my sleep quality suffers significantly. The sleep debt is cumulative & really affects all aspects of my health.
#2 SCHEDULING & USE OF TIME
Just to say that having too little to do is just as depleting as doing too much. My practice is down and I find it depressing if there are too many gaps in my schedule–the holes in the swiss cheese are too big! I live too far from my office to go home and I find it difficult to structure a consistent enough schedule for myself. Also, it is hard for me to switch gears to use these gaping holes to market my practice. I do my best work when I am busy seeing clients. Right now, I would consider being too busy a “high-class problem!”
I appreciate the reminders and framing them as “reserve”. My mind is full of mind-fullness thinking …which I need to help develop reserve…from the wonderful Leadership Conference CD’s received. Great teaching on each. Thank you for your efforts to find excellent communicators on each subject!
Carol
After reading the latest e-mail from Casey, it occurs to me that a therapist can be “wealthy” without regard for a moment as to how much $$$ is placed in his or her bank account. The way this therapist thinks is proof of what true riches really look like — far beyond dollars and cents. Proverbs 23:7 on display. Well done, indeed.