Do you ever feel like you need to press the ‘Pause’ button just to catch up?
Our life here on the GC is a bit hectic at the moment and I feel the need to press the ‘pause’ button on some areas. I’ve often written about spreading yourself too thin but for me there is always the ‘guilt’ of what to ‘pause’ and what to ‘keep on play’ because inevitably someone or something will be affected.
It comes down to Prioritising and Where I am placing my energy.
Why ‘Pause’
Pause means just rearranging my priorities. Pressing the Pause button on life and prioritising what is important, reduces stress and improves our health and wellbeing.
It means I’m taking a break from this or that whilst I focus on other areas in my life. Pausing is good for our health and well-being and sometimes it actually brings clarity. If you ‘pause’ something, you may find it wasn’t that important to you and you decide to actually stop or you find you miss it and know you want to keep doing it.
Currently, I am supporting my husband who is Executor of his late’s Mother’s Estate. There has been a Contest of the Will by a family member which is causing distress and added work for my husband to defend his Mother’s wishes and also protect the other beneficiaries as best he can.
I’m completing my Certificate IV in Fitness and want to push this through by end of October. I am so close, and just love my work as a Group Fitness Instructor at Strong Healthy Women. I need to concentrate on my assignments and finish some practical to qualify as a Personal Trainer.
Queensland School holidays in mid to late September,will see me spending time with my grandsons which I am very grateful to be able to do and they are one priority that I will never put on ‘Pause’.
I have also been training for a big run coming up in mid September which has been taking up most of my Saturdays.
Add to that my Blog, My weekly Newsletter, interviewing guests for the WLWA50 podcast and presenting my Micro Mondays plus my social activities such as the Online Bookclub and Women’s Circle and yes, life is pretty full.
What will I do?
Something has to give, so I wrote a list of all I am doing and tried to rank them in order of priority. Boy, it was tough! I found most of the things I am doing I love and they add to the quality of my life.
At the moment I’m not feeling very ‘creative’ mentally. I’ve decided to ‘pause’ posting as often to the Blog, my Micro Mondays podcast and the Facebook Community. I will still post, especially for the Podcast interviews, the What’s on your plate blog challenge? and What’s on your bookshelf challenge? BUT I don’t want to just write posts that are repetitive around the same subject for the sake of posting – that gets boring for all of us and is of no real value.
The weekly Newsletter will change to Monthly for the short term and then let’s see where we go from there.
’64 with hugs galore’
This was what my 7 year old grandson added to the Happy Birthday song for my 64th birthday last week as I celebrated with my family. I looked at my family and realised that they are what is most important to me. I always knew that but sometimes you just have to ‘pause’ and reflect.
I also read about the passing of Charlie Watts, drummer from the Rolling Stones and our friend’s daughter passing in her mid 50’s last week. I am 64 and my darling husband is 73 so whilst I don’t dwell on death, the reality is there are many more sunsets behind us than there are ahead. For me, it is all about making the most of every day with my darling, my family and friends. For me, it is about what brings me joy and fulfillment.
I’m living life my way – are you living life your way?
22 Comments
Well said Sue and I think taking a pause on some things is what’s needed at times. Don’t feel guilty and just do what you can when you can! I feel for you with the Will issue, that must be so dreadful to have to go through after losing Mike’s mother last year. Take care and thanks for the update xx
Thanks Deb! You are always my cheerleader and I am so grateful for your friendship. Life is good but sometimes Pausing is good too.
Hi, Sue – I am so glad that you are prioritizing and pressing pause. This is a very important skill and most of us don’t do it enough (or don’t do it planfully or without guilt). This is also excellent modeling for all of us (who also need to prioritize and catch our breath). Sending warm hugs your way.
“64 and Hugs Galore” — I absolutely LOVE this!
Isn’t ’64 and Hugs Galore’ just the best! Ethan had been practising it, so he told me and made a creative birthday card for me. I am so very lucky and yes, it is time to press Pause on some things whilst I enjoy other areas of my life. You teach me this! xx
Wow. There’s a lot to comment on. Firstly, I love the 64 and hugs galore!
I think it’s okay to pause on the blog. Sometimes less is more because you have more important thingsa to say (as it’s not diluted).
Your pragmatism about the sunsets behind you is quite lovely (comforting? I don’t know the word I mean – empowering? I don’t know – it’s admirable tho. There’s a complimment in there if only my brain worked at the moment!)
Lastly, I love you were so organised and methodical in choosing your priorities.
Hi Lydia, you made my day with your comment which I truly appreciate. I love the 64 and hugs galore too! My grandsons are so cute and the 7 year old is wise beyond his years. I really am struggling as I reflect on the number of sunsets left. I don’t want to dwell on it but it is a reality and I just don’t want all of the family issues to end and then find that time has run out. Have a lovely week and I always enjoy your photos of Sydney where I was born. xx
Hi Sue, It makes total sense to pause from time to time to reassess and adjust where we place our energy. Do what you need to do without guilt. I’ll be cheering you on for living life your way. Take care. #lifethisweek
Thanks so much Natalie. I think we are always hardest on ourselves and feel responsibility for so many areas. Thank you for being my cheerleader and I’m always inspired by your ‘balanced’ approach to life. xx
I am turning 64 today and I am also pressing the Pause button. Follow your heart and do what you feel is important for you and your family. I feel for your husband as the same thing happened to me with my family. It was so stressful and it still is and unfortunately I had to let one of my brother go (too toxic). I hope it will not go that far with your husband’s family. keep up the good work and take care of yourself. Your blog inspires me so much. You always make my day1 Thank you for all you do.
Hello Yvonne and thank you for your comment. Happy birthday! I’m sure all of the good people are born in August! I do have to follow my heart at the moment and take the advice I give to others. I’m feeling a bit pulled in all directions and the Will has certainly put extra strain on our life. You have made my day telling me that my blog inspires you. I often wonder if I wasting my time with the blog but then I receive a comment like yours and it spurs me on. Take care and I’d love to hear how your Pause is going. xx
This is fantastic advice, Sue – we all need to do this more often. I’m in lockdown at the moment – so the perfect time to do it. Toni x
Take care Toni. We are all here to support you xx
Hi Sue, I immediately like your word “pause.” I do feel guilty when I cannot attend all events and I turn down invitations. Your word “pause” is a gentle word and allows me to hit “play” later on. I have always liked Stephen Covey’s words and Chuck and I use some of his quotes throughout our week. I cannot imagine the amount of stress you and your husband are going through regarding his Mother’s Estate and her Will.
Reading your post reminds me of the concepts of ‘evaluation’ and ‘reevaluation.’ Oh, my gosh, your grandson is such a little sweetheart! ‘64 with hugs galore’ I am sorry about your friend’s daughter. Always the reminder on how precious our time and energy is on this Earth. Thank you for sharing this post, and helping me reflect on what is important. I am also sending you hugs galore, Sue! xx❤️
Thank you beautiful, Erica and I know you ‘get’ where I’m coming from. The Estate issues are very distressing for Mike and it appears that a Person’s last wishes are not necessarily the way the Courts look at things. All Mike can do is try to uphold his Mum’s wishes. Ethan is such a sweetheart. He can be a terror like most 7 year olds but he has such a caring soul. He made me an interactive birthday card and both of them were so excited to share my special day. I’m loving the photos of you and Chuck enjoying your grandchildren – that is what life is all about isn’t it? Take care my lovely friend. xx
Hi Sue – yes, family is always first isn’t it? Whether it’s our husband, children or grandkids…..they are what fuels us and who we want to invest in and create our legacy around – everything else is second. I totally understand why you’d want to rearrange things a bit and pause a few commitments – it was a bit like me wanting to turn the volume down a little with my blog to free my focus and energy up for other interests. There are always seasons in life and I think you’re doing what’s best to keep the balance and happiness in your life – and that’s what’s key isn’t it?
Yes I think pressing the PAUSE button means we don’t have to necessarily stop it just means putting some things on hold whilst you focus on other areas that need your attention. x
This makes total sense. Prioritise what needs to be prioritised and the rest can wait. Much love.
Thanks Jo! x
I can relate Sue and worry that so many of my personal posts are just whinging about life and not feeling okay.
I like your idea of deciding where you put your energy. I was just reading a post from a week or two by Pat from Retirement Transition (I still had open on my browser as I’d not commented on it yet) and they talked about life frameworks.
I feel like I’m in a holding pattern in terms of employment and earning money but it occurred to me yesterday there’s some other stuff I want to do that I could be doing now. (Decluttering my wardrobe and rearranging it is number 1!)
Hi Deb, I find the idea of where I’m placing my energy invaluable. My friend, Erica told me about this way back in January and it has been such a helpful way to look at life when it gets too much. You aren’t whinging you are just letting it out which you need to do. xx
Giving ourselves permission to “NOT” do or whatever is huge when you are, by nature, an achiever and someone who liked to please and connect with others…ask me how I know this!
Sue, giving yourself this pause for all the reasons you mention is incredibly valuable and will help, I am pretty sure, over time for you to determine what IS more important to keep, to change and to …perhaps stop.
Looking forward to watching your evolution to match the needs of Sue going forward.
Well-done on self care done right!
Thanks for sharing the post for Life This Week. Loved reading yours. Next week’s optional prompt is Self Care Stories. Hope to see you there too. Denyse
Thanks Denyse, I’m finding that I need to Pause every few months and it really revitalises me. xx