When Something’s Gotta Give

I think one of the most underrated skills a person can develop is the ability to recognize when they need a break. Knowing that things are approaching critical mass allows you to pause and reset—whatever that means for you—before a meltdown occurs.

And let’s face it, the society we are living in can be an anxiety-inducing shit show. Many of us are just a paycheck or two away from disaster. Add to that the stress of trying to figure out what the actual fuck the various soul-sucking algorithms want at any given moment, and it’s no wonder that most of us are self-medicating just to keep from screaming into the void.

I will admit that I am not always the best at recognizing the signs that I need to step away. I tend to get tunnel vision when I’m working on a project and when I look up, I realize I should have pulled back a while ago. But I have been getting better (I think) at letting other people know when I’m getting frustrated. My family is my saving grace quite often, encouraging me to take a slight break from social media (because that is almost always the cause of my biggest frustrations). Sometimes, it takes hearing the words from another person before you’re ready to believe them. I guess it feels easier to give yourself permission to rest when it’s coming from an outside source.

So, if you are currently stressed out, consider this your permission to take a break. I get that it feels like the world will end if you don’t post something every single day or if you don’t get that next chapter written right now. But I’m here to tell you, it won’t. The sky will not fall. The planet will not go up in flames. I promise. And I’m going to try to give myself that permission more often as well. Because you cannot pour from an empty cup—so make sure you get a refill. Coffee, soda, wine, whiskey…whatever works.