I’m sure you’ve asked yourself that question before?  You’re burned out from everyday things like your 9-5, keeping your house in order, making time for family and friends, and if you’re like me squeezing in your part time job as well.  It can all become a bit overwhelming.  So what do you do?  Well, if you’re anything like me you tell yourself that you need to start dedicating some much needed ‘me time’ into your schedule.

That is so much easier said than done.  I think in general most of us are people pleasers.  We don’t want to let anyone down so when an opportunity presents itself for an extra session you hadn’t planned on working into your schedule or even an afternoon shopping excursion with your best friend, you want to say yes of course.  Who doesn’t love unexpected money coming in or girl time spending that unexpected money?  Over the years, however, I have learned to say no.  I had to do it for my sanity.  A little over a year ago I was running myself ragged by working my full time job, a part time job in retail and doing photography on the side.  It was all becoming too much for me to handle and I needed to let something go.  Thankfully I was in a position financially where I was able to say good-bye to the retail job and put more focus into my photography.  But because the photography job was my new born baby I was accepting any and every job to help it grow, even if it meant working every Saturday in a row.  I didn’t want to turn anything down.  And though I loved the work, it seemed pointless to let the retail job go just to work as many hours as I was when I had all 3 jobs.

I sat myself down and had a good long look at what was and wasn’t working for me.  I told myself that from that point forward I would only work a set number of Saturdays and Sundays each month.  I needed down time.  Time to focus on just me.  If someone wanted a session on a particular date and that was the date I blocked off for me, then that date was not available.  Simple concept, not so easy to execute.  And yes, that meant occasionally saying no to a girl’s night out too.  It meant taking a step back from everything AND everyone and just enjoying my own company.  Time to rejuvenate, if you will.  After a busy work week I enjoy nothing more than curling up on my couch with a good book and a cup of tea.  It’s relaxing and sometimes I just need that.  Now don’t get me wrong, I love spending time with my loved ones and get together whenever possible, but I think there’s something to be said for enjoying your own company…even for just a few hours on a random weekend.  So I’ve said all this to say, if you’re feeling overwhelmed with the things happening in your life maybe it’s time to have a heart to heart with yourself.  See what’s working for you and what’s not and make some changes.  Learn to say no so that you can make yourself a priority.  Sure it may turn some people off at first, but I think most people understand that life can be a bit much at times and we need to detox and shift some things in our schedules around.  And in the end I think you’ll be a better person for it.  You’ll be someone that people want to be around because you’re making time for yourself and when you do that you in turn give the best of yourself to others.  I can’t promise it will work for everyone, but it has definitely worked for me.