it’s okay to rest and still have ambition

I have so many goals, so many things I want to achieve in life. 

I, unfortunately, happen to be a very lazy person (my parents’ words, not mine! Okay fine, I’ll admit I am.)

I wish I could wake up early every morning to go to the gym. I envy those who have a nightly self care routine and stick to it. I dream of my motivation being high enough to be ambitious on a daily basis at work. 

But I also recognize that I’m not that person. And that’s okay? 

I can tend to get in periods of time where I’m less likely to be productive and feel myself slipping into an episode of not wanting to do basic tasks. When I find myself in that space, I know it’s time to be intentional about taking rest. 

Being ambitious and successful involves rest when you feel burnout or overwhelmed. Having it all involves taking breaks and focusing on self love and care. 

avoiding burnout

Before I started my career, I was so afraid of being burnt out. I heard constant horror stories in college of people going into my field, being overworked and underpaid and eventually leaving the industry as a whole. 

In fact, my college roommate, who graduated with the same degree as me, decided she wanted to go to law school instead of pursuing journalism because she was so burnt out during that last year. (shout out to her for graduating from law school too!)

Burnout is so real, and it’s scary. I left my last job because I was feeling burnt out and undervalued. 

When you get to that point of feeling burnout, take that rest, please. Don’t be too prideful or scared of repercussions. 

Even if you miss an opportunity or someone looks at you sideways, it’s better than being completely unhappy or letting life pass you by. 

Choose what you put your energy into, and give yourself freedom to rest.

As ambitious and successful women, do what you have to do to get yourself back on track. Oftentimes, we want to prove we can do anything and everything, which can cause us to get less done due to burnout or lack of time. 

Ask for help, reach out for assistance and make arrangements when you’re struggling, if you are fortunate to have people around you who would help. 

It’s also okay to not be able to handle everything in one day. Take your rest. You have done such a great job of being strong, and you’ll be able to continue without burning out if you take the little bit of rest you can today.

additional content: advice for the women who are tired of being strong

conditioned to keep going

Do you ever feel like as women we’re conditioned to be strong and tuck away when we’re struggling? Some of that comes from a place of fear that other people will think we’re too weak or emotional to handle it (I blame TV & society for that.)

I love how I can handle anything thrown at me. I love how I don’t need anyone and don’t rely on anyone in my life to be able to do things for me. 

I love my strength and independence, but sometimes I am just tired of being an independent woman.

As an independent woman, do what you have to do to get yourself back on track. Oftentimes, we want to prove we can do anything and everything, which can cause us to get less done due to burnout or lack of time. 

You can still be ambitious and successful if you rest. You can still be an independent woman handling your shit and ask for help. 

Do what you have to do without feeling guilt or feeling like you can’t handle all your ambitions.

While you are strong enough to continue and keep going, go at a pace that you can actually achieve. We all remember the tortoise and the hare, right? 

having it all involves breaks

As a woman nearing her late 20s, I’ve heard so much about “having it all” as a woman. 

I’ve heard ‘you have to make sacrifices,’ ‘you can have it all if you work overtime,’ ‘you need help to have it all,’ ‘it’s impossible in this society’ etc. 

Everyone has their own take on what having it all means and the feasibility of achieving it. Whatever it looks like to you, I imagine it’s a work in progress. 

I’m constantly dreaming of having it all, but one thing I make sure to include in my routine is rest and breaks. Whether I’m intentionally recognizing when I overbook myself, or whether I’m so burnt out that I’m forced to let rest choose me. 

It’s okay to not be completely on top of it all when faced with tasks. Take a break (or several) if you need them. Having small, tangible steps that are coupled with breaks can make things feel more tangible.

Take the breaks, and take advantage of the slow moments. Remember that you’re human, and you’re meant to enjoy this lifetime too. 

You’re meant to enjoy the present, and you shouldn’t let the uncomfortable progress of trying to have it all bring you misery. 

tap into self care

When you’re feeling tired and need to rest, tap into self care, which is the key to showing yourself extra love and grace. 

There are many ways to practice self love, and self care is one of my favorite ways to spend quality time with myself and encourage a healthier and more positive outlook on my life. 

You can make some space in your home or office for a self love sanctuary. It’s a great idea to dedicate a room or nook for activities you often do, such as creating a home gym or home spa.

Plants and flowers can make you feel warm and lively in your self care sanctuary. You can also be creative and decorate your apartment to whatever theme you’re going for. 

I also love to read and journal, so I dedicated a large shelf in my home for my books and journals. It’s aesthetically pleasing and shows who I am, while also being convenient for when I’m in the mood to do some self care through reading and writing. 

There’s also a ton of self care activities you can try, such as going for a nature walk, taking a relaxing bubble bath, taking yourself out on a solo date and participating in positive self talk. 

additional content: self care activities for grown women