Who woke up one day and decided that women need to be able to do it all, on their own, all at the same time, day in and day out? NO ONE! So why are we spending our lives struggling? There’s no shame in admitting you need help.
One of the biggest downfalls of many business owners and indeed of managers working in larger companies is that they don’t know how to delegate. They try to do everything themselves and as such, the business suffers as a result. An effective business owner or manager will be able to delegate tasks effectively to those who are able to help them to fulfil the aims of the business efficiently.
The same could be said for life and when applied in this way, how many of you would hand on heart say that you are delegating effectively? When was the last time you needed help? I bet some of you out there are really struggling mentally or physically with something that someone else could help you with if only you could pluck up the courage to ask.
In life, there comes a time when we realise that we can’t do it all and I want to tell you that I reached that point, I swallowed my pride and now I can tell you that there is absolutely no shame in admitting you need help and asking for it. I’ve done it and so can you, however silly or insignificant that thing may be. I posted about this earlier today on my WhatLauraLoves Instagram and I was overwhelmed with the number of you who have felt and done the same. It’s time to take a stand ladies and release some of the control over our lives so that we can have better control over ourselves, our mind and our happiness.
Whether it’s around the house, with childcare, school runs, paperwork, food shopping, washing and ironing or whatever else you need to do on a daily basis, you don’t have to do it all alone. As women we often feel like we have to be multi tasking marvels 24/7 and be all things to all people, all of the time. This is most often at the detriment to ourselves, our happiness and lets face it, our bloody sanity! Help is out there though, so if you’re struggling with something in your life and theres help that someone can give you or a service you can go to for support, DO IT!
With working from home, I struggle if my space isn’t tidy as I’m sat looking at all this other stuff that I need to do; cleaning, tidying, cooking, errands, while also trying to run two different arms of a business. Being self employed isn’t easy and working from home isn’t always cushty. Sure it has its benefits but every job has its pros and cons.
I love what I do but working in the place I also live in affects my productivity, efficiency & ability to think clearly at times, especially when I have so much to do. Last year, I noticed a cycle whereby everything at home would get on top of me, it’d build up and I’d not be able to get anything done & it would feel unsuccessful, as though I couldn’t cope and highly irritated at myself that I couldn’t finish all my work as well as have a clean, tidy home at the same time. Friends would help me out, peace would be restored and then it would build up again.
For the foreseeable, I’m prioritising my small disposable income where I can receive the most benefit & have got someone to come deep clean for me once a fortnight for a couple of hours, then I can maintain in between. It’s not a great cost in the grand scheme of things; the equivalent of a takeaway or going to the cinema which I will give up in place of it because I know that it’ll have such a beneficial impact on my mental health, work productivity & ultimately, my happiness.
Sometimes you have to admit that you can’t do it all & ask for help. There’s no shame in taking control of your life & making things work for you, I feel so relieved & much happier that I’ve got someone I can trust to help!
How long it’ll last for, I don’t know. I’m very much playing it by ear for the mean time but I’ll keep you all update on how it is working for me as time goes on. All I can say for now is that the initial relief of asking for help with something I felt ashamed to admit that I needed help with was unreal. I feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders, even though it is something quite insignificant in the grand scheme of things, and as though my mind is becoming clearer with the things that I need to do for work.
Making a positive change to my home and mindset is a really refreshing way to start 2019 and I can’t wait for all of the great things that are going to happen this year and beyond. I’m feeling uplifted and happier; long may it continue!
The outfit that I’m wearing in this post is from my range with Curvissa #WhatLauraLovesXCurvissa. Click to shop the Embellished Sweatshirt and stretchy cropped jeggings.
When was the last time you admitted that you needed help with something? I’d love to hear what changes you think you could put into action to make your life easier!
*Many thanks to Amy Rebair for taking these photos for me at Matfen Hall.
