Six deep breaths
I've been seeing enough LJ entries from various people to believe that a number of folks are just having a hard time with stuff this week. Some of it may be related to weather. (It's not supposed to be this effin' cold for this long around here, for one thing.) Some of it may be people trying to push past their brains' need for a little breathing spell. Some of it may be particular stresses that will, one hopes, be relieved somewhat before the end of the month.
If you're not getting everything done that you think you should be getting done, stop beating yourself up. Or try, for at least a few minutes. Take six deep breaths -- breathe in slowly, breathe out slowly, just concentrate on the breathing, six times. (At least, do it six times if there is no dependent-related emergency emerging as you're doing this, and if there is such an emergency, deal with the emergency, and try to schedule a few minutes for it after said dependents are in bed or otherwise occupied in a manner that is not likely to allow another emergency to erupt. If you have a an infant just recently released from the NICU with breathing issues, do whatever you can whenever you can -- I know that situation has very little in the way of planned respite time. But I don't know that anyone reading this is in that situation.)
It's OK to need a little break in February. It's OK to do something to take at least a little bit of that needed break. Take a little time for yourself, if only 3 - 5 minutes, and if anyone tries to guilt you into not doing that much, ignore them for at least as long as it takes to slowly take six deep breaths.
If you're not getting everything done that you think you should be getting done, stop beating yourself up. Or try, for at least a few minutes. Take six deep breaths -- breathe in slowly, breathe out slowly, just concentrate on the breathing, six times. (At least, do it six times if there is no dependent-related emergency emerging as you're doing this, and if there is such an emergency, deal with the emergency, and try to schedule a few minutes for it after said dependents are in bed or otherwise occupied in a manner that is not likely to allow another emergency to erupt. If you have a an infant just recently released from the NICU with breathing issues, do whatever you can whenever you can -- I know that situation has very little in the way of planned respite time. But I don't know that anyone reading this is in that situation.)
It's OK to need a little break in February. It's OK to do something to take at least a little bit of that needed break. Take a little time for yourself, if only 3 - 5 minutes, and if anyone tries to guilt you into not doing that much, ignore them for at least as long as it takes to slowly take six deep breaths.