Finding my purpose.
Published 9/13/2013 • Updated 1/25/2020
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One thing I am not very good at is “Saying No.”
I get really excited about different opportunities that I am presented and sort of shove my stress level aside and accept offer after offer fearlessly. My current workload is absolutely over my head right now. I am almost at the point where I am managing so many different projects I can’t sleep. It’s my own fault, though and I am learning a lot about myself as I pursue my career as a young entrepreneur.
A month ago, I went down to part time at Anytime Fitness (20 hours a week), to open up more time in my schedule to put towards my blog and freelance clients. With the excitement behind that move, I added a variety of different freelance projects to my workload. I’ll give you a break down of all of the projects I am working on right now. I’ll mark new next to it if it is fairly recent.
Current Workload
- Anytime Fitness: (20 hours/week)
- Designer Whey: 4 Recipes/Month (3 hours/week)
- Anytime Health: 3 Recipes/Month (2 hours/week)
- Fitfluential Instagram: (5 hours/week) *new*
- Yoga Sculpt Corepower: At least 3 classes/week (6 hours/week..more if I sub)
- Yoga Sculpt Hockey Team: 2 Classes/week (3 hours/week) *new*
- Corepower Management: (8 hours/week) *new*
- Fit Foodie Finds Recipe Creation/Blogging/Social Media: (15-25 hours/week)
- TOTAL/Week: 62-72 hours/week
I didn’t have a single day off last week nor do I have one this week- and again that is my own fault. Sunday was a bit of a mess. I worked all day at Corepower (this shift is new to my schedule) and came home and just exploded with tears. It had nothing to do with Corepower…it was 100% built up stress that finally erupted after a long week. I’m not much of a cryer, but when I do it brings me back to my eating disorder times when I was suffering from sever depression. It freaks me out. I love every single project I am currently working on, but I am so overly busy that these amazing opportunities are actually bringing some negative energy to my life.
This post ins’t suppose to be about me complaining about how stressed I am, rather helping me write it all down and evaluate because something needs to change. Whether it’s stepping down from something or managing my time better. I have some amazing mentors that are part of my life (Steph, Blake, Shannon, and Angela!) and each and every one of them has given me the exact same advice.
Yesterday I met with Stephanie over coffee, and she is SO good at coaching me about this situation. One thing she suggested was to really think about what my purpose is. Why am I doing what I am doing? Once I figure that out, I can start filtering opportunities through that and saying no should be rather simple.
So. That is where I am right now in my career. Still trying to figure out what my purpose is. Thank you for being an ear this morning 🙂
I am off to enjoy a beautiful day with Lauren from Me and the Mountains and my girlfriend B riding bikes and shopping in Uptown. Tonight I have my first cocktail event as part of the Healthy Living Summit and all day tomorrow I will be downtown Minneapolis at the conference. I’ll be taking a break this weekend from blogging…but definitely follow my happenings on Instagram!
Gosh! Busy busy busy. Finding your purpose and what not only makes you happy BUT makes you thrive is essential to be truly happy. I know you’ll figure it all out! Xo
That is a lot of hours – so many do it to these days in tough times… I am glad you are trying to figure it all out…. Life is shorter than we think but I do get how when we are young that we want to make an impact – I hope you figure out what is right for you!
It’s so easy to overcommit yourself, you’re smart to figure out that it’s time to start saying no. And how exciting that you have so many opportunities that you have to do that! 🙂
Love you so much. (even if we haven’t met) I hope you find your balance. Take a deep breath. It will all be okay in the end. Ask for help when you need it, reach out and off load on someone.
I hear you, even if you are enjoying everything you are doing you still need time to breath. Your doing a great job though! 🙂
I tend to do the same thing- pile more and more onto my plate, until I freak out because I’ve spread myself too thin. Time management is definitely something that will help, but make sure to also schedule in time for yourself!
Sometimes we just forgot that our days do not only consist of work and study hours but that we also need some time for those we love and ourselves… and sleep, let’s not forget about that 😉 I totally get over-engaging in stuff that I am enthusiastic about. Doing something you love and making money from it is exciting and beautiful, but as you said – it looses a lot of it’s appeal if it eats up all of our time. Guess as long as you cannot afford an assistant you have no other opportunity than quitting one or two projects or scaling them down. Less hours/recipes per week could be an opportunity to not totally quit working with the company you love. Hope you’ll find your purpose soon – have a beautiful weekend!
WOW! That is a lot on your plate. I am also not great about saying no, and sometimes I get myself in over my head as well. I love the idea about finding your purpose! I hope you have a wonderful time at the Healthy Living Summit!
Busy Busy Busy! Enjoy a break at HLS. 🙂
Awesome. xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo