QUIZ: Are You Running on
Empty?
When we fall into habits like constantly juggling too much, always being
on-the-go and not paying attention to our own
needs, we run the risk of depleting ourselves—physically, emotionally and spiritually. Over
time this “running on empty” can become a way of
life—so much so, that many women don’t even
realize it.
To check whether you might be running on empty,
answer the following questions:
-
Do you
feel stressed out and “frazzled”
much of the time?
-
Does
your life feel like one big “to-do”
list?
-
Do you
feel like you never have any time
for yourself?
-
Are you
emotionally exhausted, feeling like
you have nothing left to give?
-
Do you have a
low tolerance for frustration?
-
Do you find
it difficult to ask for help or
delegate to others?
-
Are you
usually “on the run” or pressed for
time?
-
Does the
thought of doing nothing make you
feel uneasy?
-
Are you
irritable and moody more often
than you’d like?
-
Do you
feel guilty about not being the
Mom you want to be?
-
Are you
often tired with low levels
of energy?
-
Do
you often wish somebody
would look after your
needs?
If you answered "yes" to three or more questions,
chances are you're running on empty.
According to Brent Bost, M.D., author of The
Hurried Woman Syndrome, one in four women
will experience this kind of depletion at some
point in their lives. And although the experience
may be common, it is anything but normal.
Running on empty has been associated with several
physical and emotional health issues including
chronic fatigue syndrome, ulcers and headaches,
as well as heart disease and depression.
The good news is that running on empty does not
have to be a way of life. Although the solution
is not an overnight event, there are some small
steps you can take to begin creating a healthier,
more fulfilling approach to living and parenting…
-
Put on the brakes.
The first step in transforming a running on empty
lifestyle is to *stop*—call a halt to the running
and doing and striving to get everything done.
Give yourself a time-out where you can breathe
and focus on how you really want to be
living and parenting.
-
It's all about energy.
Moms often say that there's not enough
time to get everything done. The truth is we
don't need more time, we need more
energy—physically, emotionally and spiritually.
Are you nourishing your body with healthy foods,
physical activity and rest? Are you nourishing
your heart and mind with a positive, loving
environment—both in your inner and outer worlds?
Do you spend time engaging in activities that
inspire you? These are fundamental needs that we
provide very readily for our children, but
neglect to give ourselves. In what areas of body,
mind and spirit can you nourish and replenish
yourself?
-
Connect. When
we're busy running around, tending to everybody
else's needs, we disconnect very quickly from our
relationships with our selves and our families.
Mary LoVerde, author of Stop Screaming at the
Microwave, says that when we are faced with
too much to do, the most important question we
can ask ourselves is "With whom should I
connect?" Not "What do I need to do"
or "What should I do" but "With whom
should I connect?" Maybe it's time to
reconnect with yourself or have special
time just being with your husband or your
children. Whomever it is, this is a very powerful
way to reconnect a disconnected, running on empty
way of life.
As you begin to take a slower path and replenish
your self, you will begin to connect to the
things that really matter to you. You'll
experience new levels of energy and happiness
and, most importantly, you will become more of
the Mom and person that you want to be—for
yourself and your children.
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