Reacquainting Myself with Life

[michelle1963]

For the year I worked at AXA as a financial advisor, I worked 50-60 hours per week. And yet that only describes the hours that I was actively doing something; it doesn't count the hours I spent thinking about how to approach my job, my next move, the best strategy. Even in moments when I was ostensibly doing something else, my brain was busy

Comments

[ehowton]

I want to push myself in becoming a couch potato - just to see if its something I can do!

[michelle1963]

Part of my evening calm down routine is to put myself in front of the TV by 20:00. So far that is as early as I can manage. I keep finding myself compelled to attack the list of long-neglected chores - although it is finally getting shorter.

I have a very industrious friend, who nonetheless gives herself a marathon Breaking Bad day whenever she needs to catch up on rest. Smart lady. I would like to get to the place where I can do something similar and not feel that I should be doing something else. (Of course most of those shoulds are self-inflicted.)

[suzanne1945]

Even after being retired for 6 years, I struggle with the "things I should be doing". While I do allow myself the afternoon nap and TV by 8, I can't seem to let myself just blow off a whole day and do nothing. I wish you luck. Hopefully you will be more successful than I. I've wondered if feeling guilty if I'm not productive is a mechanism for such mental health issues as self-concept, depression, or just plain habit over a lifetime.

[ehowton]

Sounds like you need a couple of 70-hour work weeks! After that, the "blow off a whole day and do nothing" gains a whole new perspective :)

[codekitten]

Ha!!!

[michelle1963]

Well, I was reading the other day that highly successful people schedule free time. I don't know if that's the same as lounging in front of the TV, but I have noticed I am less tired if I take it easy one day a week.

I think lately, I feel like I am making up for lost time in regard to "stuff around the house."

[anonymous]

Yes, I've been there, but since my 60-65 hour weeks were spread out over 7 days, so I never found a day to blow off.

[michelle1963]

Yeah - that would be really tough. Although I at times worked 6 days per week, I knew I had to rest at least one day out of the week.