One of my New Year resolutions, along with eating better, drinking less alcohol and more water and all the standard stuff revolving around looking after myself, was to carve out some more time to relax and have fun.
I recently alluded to the amount of work I have to get done every week just to stay on track with my interior design projects, coursework, my day job and blogging. By Christmas I was becoming overwhelmed. There is only so long one can carry on getting up at 6am, working solidly for two hours until leaving for work, commuting for an hour, then doing a full day in the office, and then trying to squeeze some downtime and fun into the evening before collapsing into bed exhausted. Just to get on the same treadmill again the next day.
The pressure of trying to finishing my time- and brain-consuming KLC course, along with transitioning careers (i.e. doing two jobs at the same time) is just too much to fit into one, normal sized week. I was starting to suffer from burn-out and high levels of frustration and something had to give.
I didn’t want to drop any of my projects as that would prevent me from moving forwards to the nirvana of a career solely focussed around interior design, and so two weeks ago I negotiated with my boss to take one day off a week. I am extremely fortunate that my boss was incredibly supportive and agreed immediately so as from now, I don’t work Tuesdays, and can take any other days off I wish as long as I can still get my job done in the time that I’m there (something I know that I can do).
It turns out that Tuesday is the perfect day to have off. Not being part of the weekend, it’s a day earmarked for whatever I choose it to be, with no requirement to take anyone else’s wishes into account and no inclination to relax after the weekend or start to wind down in anticipation of the next one.
I have decided to split my day off into two parts – the morning for full-on coursework and then the afternoon for fun. I recognise that taking the day off for coursework only and doing my usual twelve hour stint with no break isn’t going to help my stress levels so having the afternoon as an enforced ‘as I please’ is a good call.
Since I made this decision ideas and inspirations have flooded into my head like water gushing from an opened dam. Shops I want to visit, people I want to meet, walks I want to take, books I want to read. I feel like a big fuzzy space has cleared in my head and so far it’s been absolutely brilliant. My stress levels have dropped dramatically, I feel relaxed, energetic and happy. I’ve been for wedding dress fittings, eaten macaroons and had beauty treatments in a posh hotel, I’ve had tea and cake at Liberty with a good friend, bought and eaten pies at Borough Market and had some reflexology. And all that was in just two Tuesday afternoons. And crucially I’ve got some real traction with my coursework and am nearly there on finishing the module. Quite honestly feel like a different person.
My plan is to write about some of my Tuesday adventures, as a spur to hold me accountable to getting out and about and spending time elsewhere than at my drawing board. So here’s to Tuesdays, my new favourite day of the week. And tomorrow is going to be even more fun as it’s my birthday so I don’t even have to do coursework. Hoorah!
Lovely to hear you’re much less stressed, have a fantastic day tomorrow
Lots of Love
S xx
I would love to have one day off a week (especially Tuesdays, no one is ever out on Tuesdays so you wouldn’t have to fight the crowds the same way as on the weekend) and I have a lot less going on than you do! So good for you for speaking up and asking for what you need. The worst that can happen is that they say “no” but it worked out wonderfully for you, and now you have some time to breathe. I don’t know how you were working at 6am, I can barely spell my own named before 7:30am.
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How wonderful you’ve found a solution to a too-busy schedule. Have a wonderful birthday tomorrow
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thanks Rebecca
Oh Annie! I’m so glad to hear that you’ve done this! What a brilliant move on your part. We all take too much on, I think, and you’re so smart to pay attention to the voices that were telling you that you needed to take a break and pull back a bit. Somehow our society has decided that there’s a badge of honor in being super busy. That a busy life means a good, full life. I’m not buying it. I’ll lay bets that your life will be much fuller when you fill your cup with the things you love.
good for you Annie! what a sigh of relief. it’s funny how we take things on until we want to explode and then our practical side finally wakes up! Happy early Bday! (or is it Tuesday there already?) Anyway I hope you have a wonderful birthday and get to relax and enjoy! xo Teri
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Congratulations doll. You were definitely looking more relaxed when I saw you last week. Glad you are taking time out to enjoy life rather than racing through it. Tuesday’s are a cool day to have off, they must make Monday’s far more attractive
x
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Mondays are the new Friday
Fantastic idea and what a nice boss you have! I used to occasionally take days off to do just museum hopping, a market or one of my fave things to do – an afternoon movie on my own. Looking forward to hear of the Tuesday adventures.
Sneaky Magpie recently posted..Chocolate chip and banana cookies and some roomy dresses
Hang in there! After you finish design school you will feel much better (been there, done that). On the flip side, I am SUPER excited to read about your Tuesday’s in London!
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Happy Birthday Bird!
I wonder whether you subconsciously instigated the ‘Tuesday’ freedom pass as you turn 40 today??? Clever move!
I don’t know what I’m most delighted about, you trying to eat better, drink less alcohol, up your water intake, visit more shops, be more relaxed and actually live in the moment and have some fun??? Hmmm, I say all good stuff and really the only way to live a good life!!!
So, enjoy your special day (or week), delighted you saw your Birthday in at The Wolseley and a big hug for you from an extremely sunny Nice! x
Oh lucky you being in Nice. I’m rather envious of that. Hope you’re having fun.
i think/hope you’ll find the 4 day week a lot more manageable… it certainly saved my bacon! you don’t realise how much of your time gets allocated to others between work, relationships, family, friends, study, etc… here’s to happy tuesdays annie!
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Oh I didn’t realise you did that too. You’ll have to tell me about it!
Good for you Annie! Wishing you a wonderful Birthday! x
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Brilliant, Annie! So, so happy you have you made this happen for yourself. It’s so crazy how much stuff we put upon ourselves until we suffocate from the stress/pressure of it all. Most of which is self imposed. (I’ve been feeling much the same way and, yes, something always has to give. Let’s make sure it’s never our sanity.) More importantly, happy, happy birthday, Annie! Hope your special day was everything you needed.
PS~Dress fittings and macarons!!
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What a brilliant idea, Annie! I often wondered how you managed to fit it all in. A mother with kids won’t even have as much on her plate as you do. Good on you for giving yourself a break.
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Yay Annie! This is such a wonderful thing! And the amount you fit into one Tuesday afternoon is amazing! I’m inspired!! Excited to see your Tuesday updates xx
p.s Happy Birthday !!!
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hello annie,
burnout and asking for what you want – time off. that’s wonderful! i’m happy your boss is willing to work with you. making a commitment to have fun and enjoy life does just what you found – bring out ideas and inspiration. i look forward to reading about your adventures here. joy to you, n
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I’m so pleased you’ve done this, I feel so much better after asking to work from home on a Wednesday so I could skip a days commute a week, but having the whole day to yourself must be wonderful.
I think it’s easy to forget our own well being, trying to fit so much in and putting pressure on ourselves to achieve so much, well done you for giving yourself a break
Let me know if you ever want tea and cake in Liberty again, I can slope off work for an hour and pretend I have the day off like you
xx
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