Mind full or mindful?

Do you have sometimes the feeling that you need to do a lot of things and suddenly your mind is full? You don't know where you need to begin. Well, a couple of days ago I had this feeling. 

Every Wednesdayafternoon school is out. Most of the time I'm working in the afternoon for the next couple of days. But last week I had so much to do that suddenly my head didn't know anymore where I had to start. I make to do-lists but even then I frooze. I needed to go outside and do something else. 

So what I did was going to someone special for me. He can always make me laugh and he makes sure I can relax and make my mind free. But when I wanted to leave everything came back. I was getting tired. I went home but when I was home I didn't do a lot anymore. I wanted to rest and sleep. So I did a few exercices, that I do almost every evening at home because the gyms are closed. Then I went to bed. I thought by myself I will do the things later on. 

Sometimes it's better to clear your mind and doing something else for a bit. I don't say you don't need to do the things anymore but clearing your mind is something you really need to do. It can give you other perspectives on how you can do things. Or maybe it will help you choose the most important thing and then you can start with that. 

It's better to work mindful instead of working with your mind full. It's something I also need to learn. I don't need to work the whole time I also need to relax. Taking time for myself and doing things I like. It's hard for me. I'm constantly working. When I wake up I think about my work and what I need to print that day. When I'm at my work I think about the things I need to do that day. When the kids are gone I still work and when I'm home I'm working more. 

How can I take time for myself and find the right mix of working and relaxing? For me it's also a mysterie. So I went searching online. I need to find a good balance between work and life. How can you do that you're asking? Well, I read an article about this. In the article they talk about 8 tips. I'm going to explain them to you and maybe they can also be helpful. 

1. There is no perfect work-life balance. Just make a realistic schedule. Some days you work more and some days you think more about your life. 
2. Find a job you love. When you need to work at home for your job and you don't like that then you probalby have chosen the wrong job. 
3. The main priority is your health. Your physical and mental health. If you're struggling with mental healt or even physical health problems and you need to leave work early then it's worth it. When your health isn't okay what are you doing then with a job were you give a lot? 
4. Unplug. Say to yourself that today you aren't going to work for your job. Once in a while it's good to say this to yourself. Working the whole time isn't healthy for you and your environment. 
5. Take a vacation. Go somewhere else or stay at home but don"t do anything for one week or even more for your work. Don't check those e-mails or don't take your computer and finish your paperwork. Just relax.
6. Make time for yourself and your loved ones. Taking some me-time can clear the mind. But also be together with the people you love can be great. I know it's difficult in these times but talking on the phone or videocalling is also an option. 
7. Seperate work and home. Maybe you have a job where you can have a phone for work and one for home. Try also to set hours. So you will work that day from for example 8 o'clock until 5. 
8. And last but not least make to do-lists. It's a way of clearing the head. When you have a lot in your mind you don't know where you need to begin. But when you write down everything you can see what you need to do. 

In my job some of the above tips aren't helpful. For example I can't say when I want vacation. I need to take the vacations as they come. I don't minde at all but in the vacations I'm also still working. So maybe I need to slow things down when I have vacation. 

Also a couple of months ago my health wasn't the most important thing for me. The most important thing was my job. Even when I had a cold I went to work. But it's when your in the hospital that you know that you really need to take care of yourself. So little by little I'm learning this. 

I think some of these tips can help me. I really need some time off and think about myself and my loved ones. And I hope you also will do this. 

Toinon