You may have noticed that it has been a little quiet here on My Manicured Life lately…
Probably like a lot of you, I’ve had to work at the work-life balance thing (that so often can get away). I find it beyond annoying when everyone tells you to,”slow down” as if you are choosing not to when your head is about to pop right off of your shoulders. However, they are right; we actually can slow down — it’s just not something I find particularly easy. It’s taken me some time to learn that taking a break is not the same as quitting.
When the holidays were approaching all I could see were trips here and there, racing to the finish line on projects, and aiming to hit goals as the year came to an end. I was feeling too spread thin { just not in the waistband area, of course}, and something had to give. Unfortunately, you don’t always get to choose what you want to let go of. I wanted to slow down before I hit a breaking point; for me, slowing down on social media and being present for those who were right in front of me felt most important. So, my social accounts took a slight break, and I’ve never felt better. Don’t get me wrong; I thrive on running MML and feel that I have learned and experienced so many wonderful things since I started this little space I carved out for inspiration (and hopefully a fun place for you to visit) two years ago. I have no plans on stopping, nor would I want to. I love writing, sharing, connecting, and hearing from you, but the break felt oh so good.
Lessons learned: I did just fine “missing out”. When I actually took the break, I realized how much I needed it but also that all would be okay if I didn’t post, write, and check in regularly.
Exposure: I had been feeling overexposed to design, which might sound funny, but it was true. Design was all I thought about and dreamed about; I was living design every day. Everywhere I turned, it was design related; the books and blogs I read, the shows I watched, the little squares on my phone and every app seemed to be related to design. Since I’m a designer for a living, it felt that I never really got a break from work. While I wasn’t able to turn it all off, the break that I managed to give myself was just what the doctor ordered. I am now back and enthusiastic about what is ahead in the design world, MML, and my design company, Julia Goodwin Design.
Gained: Quality time with loved ones where I wasn’t concerned about numbers, emails, response times, etc. I put my phone down and not down in front of me; it was in another room, and I left it there. I was able to fully focus on the holidays, which I love, and I spent time listening rather than racing or being distracted.
With a new year, it’s less about a new me but more about a new outlook that excites me. I feel refreshed and excited to share again both here on MML but also Instagram and other social accounts, and I’d love for you to follow along.
Looking to give your home a fresh start? Whether it’s a refresh or a remodel, I’d love to hear from you. Contact me here.
Happy New Year everyone, and thanks for hanging on during my mini break.
