Hey friends…..I’m taking a much needed rest…..I’ll be back. This job of being an influencer and blogger DEFINITELY is NOT for sissy’s as my daddy would say! It is SO MUCH HARD WORK……and I mean non-stop/never caught up kind of work. It’s intense, hours and hours a day, and SO STRESSFUL!!!!
However, I absolutely LOVE what I do. When I started blogging almost four years ago, I had NO IDEA where or if it would take me anywhere. I had no idea you could make a living doing this, and went in to it completely blind. This is pretty much what I do…IF I’m not at the gym, occasional lunches with friends, or time with my family. It honestly has taken over!
As much as I’ve tried to balance it with everything else, I haven’t been so good at it! I finally found someone to help me, and she has been a DREAM come true, but still there’s so much to do ALL THE TIME! The only thing I’ve been able to do is to cut back on sleep, and I mean cut way back on sleep…sometimes only 3 hours a night! This article is a bit alarming!
Obviously this isn’t healthy AT ALL! I know it and feel it, but don’t know what else to do sometimes. So…….hence this little break I’ll be taking. I’m leaving tomorrow and will be gone for eight days.
I remember distinctly several months ago. I was out playing tennis with my soon to be husband with some friends. The night was gorgeous and the company was perfect! I was leaving the next morning to go out of town for my blog. I wasn’t packed, didn’t feel ready, and so a little bit stressed. We played two sets and our friends wanted to play a third. I completely panicked because I didn’t have time for a third set. I needed my sleep and knew what I still needed to get done.
I later broke down crying, because there I was playing my favorite sport with great friends and my honey, and yet wanted to leave so I could go work again. It was an awakening for me. I knew I was way out of whack but didn’t know what to do about it! I was reminded that the pace I was keeping wasn’t going to last. Sooner or later my BODY would tell me to STOP and slow down. But…..I’m not sure how much slowing down I’ve done, if any!
How do you all unplug, relax, let things go? I started struggling with this soon after I started blogging. I feel like the wheels just keep going faster and faster! All the different tasks I need to get done in a day, become all jumbled together…..I can’t stay focused much of the time because of my “to-do” list. I would love to know your tricks!
I get so many emails and messages from women who want to start a blog. The number one thing I tell them, is that IT IS HARD WORK. You have to be consistent, and it will take over your life! It isn’t as easy as it might look on the outside looking in. My goal is to have my assistant doing more and more for me, so I can be creative. That’s the part I love the most, and that’s what makes CHIC OVER 50 work!
Anyway….bye-bye for a week! I can’t believe I’m taking a much needed rest, but I really will be back! I really will miss you all!
Shauna XO
This picture was taken on this vacation…..one of the most memorable times of my life!
Hi Shauna,
First off all…congratulations for taking some time off! Everyone deserves some R and
R, and since you also have a wedding coming up, you need to be able to enjoy it.
As someone who is an independent stylist for cabi and also has another part-time job with a local university, (and a family) I understand how difficult it can be to get it all done. When I first started with cabi, one of the best pieces of advice that I got was that, even though I work from home, to set office hours and adhere to them. This means that when those hours are done, I have to make myself stop, and this means that some things on my list might not get done that day. But tomorrow is another day! 🙂
I also make myself take one day off a week. Sometimes it’s a weekday because, as a stylist, I sometimes have shows on the weekend days. On that day off, I literally don’t work on either of my professional jobs.
I also work out regularly, which I know that you do too. Cardio is a great stress release!
You’ll figure it out…as my husband says, awareness is half the battle. Thanks for all that you do with your blog and instagram. You’re a positive influence in what can seem like a dark world, and I appreciate you. Have a beautiful wedding!
Sincerely,
Kay Spencer
Hi Shauna, I so relate to your post. Reading it brought me back to feeling the same stress that you described. It was killing me. I love, love the advice that Kay Spencer wrote. She is a very wise lady. I sincerely hope you take it to heart. Best wishes,
Kathy
This is really good advice, Shauna! Your mom recognizes good advice! xoxoxo
Good on you for recognizing this Shauna! Enjoy your time and mostly just relax and be in the moment. The most treasured time of all! Blessings to you!
Sounds like your an owner of your business. It is your baby, so naturally you give it your all. At least your recognizing your limitations and doing something about that. Have a great time!!!! We’ll be patiently waiting for your return. Things will be fine, your followers here, will hold down the Fort for you LOL!!!
ENOY! Relax and be happy!
We all need a break from time to time! Enjoy your respite, don’t even think of us. We’ll be here when you get back!
Enjoy Your Time Off!!! Eat Sleep Laugh and Eat Some More 🙂 I’ll be here waiting on your next post.
You will be missed, but your health is more important. Have a great time relaxing and recharging the batteries. Enjoy it! XXX