Stop comparing your time to people around you
Are you comparing your time management skills with someone else?
Whether that is with a friend, someone you see on social media, or even comparing it to me, you're not alone! Many of you have probably heard the quote, “Comparison is the thief of joy”, and in this circumstance this statement can be very true.
When we use that comparison to bring ourselves down, instead of lifting each other up, we get trapped. I see this all the time with my clients. They start to say to themselves:
I should be doing better.
I should manage my time better.
I shouldn't have spent all that time watching TV.
I shouldn't have procrastinated.
I can't believe I procrastinated again.
I'm working with Caitlin and I'm still procrastinating.
Why is this happening to me?
And they send themselves into a spiral of not being able to get out of the cycle. These comments and thoughts are only going to beat you up, and not actually change anything.
That's exactly what we want to prevent.
So sometimes it's helpful to put some of that away, and remind ourselves, “Oh yeah. I'm not going to compare myself. Especially when I'm looking at somebody's end process, compared to me just starting to work on my time management.” Remember that you could be looking at their end and you’re at the beginning. Or they're in the middle of that, and you didn't see their struggle. You’re only seeing their success.
Social media makes this so easy to do.
Typically, we're only going to post the good things on social media, right? That's what we do, but you don't see me on the days when I don't have as much energy. There are definitely days where I don't want to do everything on my calendar, but you don't hear how my brain works regarding this, how I shift out of it, or that I've actually created time to give myself space.
And other times I have the space built in to be like, it's okay if I take time to do this other thing. Or I want to binge watch that show. We’re all human. Or that mom of eight, who seems to have her life completely together, a Pinterest house, and it all looks like beauty and perfection. She struggles too, right? Yes! We all do.
Remember everyone is dealing with their own challenges that we can’t always see or know about.
When I compare myself or if I start to beat myself up, it doesn't get me anywhere and it doesn't get me closer to my goal. The reason I do what I do is to lift you up, and to bring you an example that this is possible for you too! I know I did it. I know it can be possible for you. So let's bring each other up, and tell me, who are you going to stop comparing yourself to this week? Let me know. Can't wait to hear!
