We’re so used to this frenzy of productivity, taught to equate our usefulness with our innate value. And the thing is, we know it’s not true. Of course everyone wants to make their lives meaningful, whether that is with career growth, the beauty of art, or even forming a loving family; whatever makes it meaningful for you.

But it is easy to get tangled up in that frenzy and forget to just live in the moment. It’s okay if you’re still learning to recognize the signs when you’re being too hard on yourself; to differentiate between needing to push through and just… have some fun.

If there’s resistance, don’t fight it. Instead, take a moment, breathe in and look yourself in the eyes. Are you doing okay, love? All work and no play is no life. Go out there and have some fun! Where there is no resistance, everything just flows.

I of all people am still learning to recognize the signs when I’m starting to burn myself out – when I tackle a task or research a topic or approach any aspect of my business, I tend to go 500% in and forget about anything else. Slowly but surely, I am starting to recognize the signs…

• turning impatient
• losing focus
• irritable
• feeling like your head is boiling from all the analytical thinking

Then it’s time to slow down!

Shut down your laptop, disconnect from any media, or any technology. Put away your phone as well. Instead, make yourself some tea, draw a bath, do some Yoga stretching to the sound of peaceful silence, just spend some time reconnecting with yourself.

Meditating for even 5-15 minutes can do wonders to just still those turbulent waters of your mind being too much in a rational, analytical energy. We all need balance, and by taking the time to take care of ourselves, and allow space and time for ourselves to relax into our creative energy as well, we regain our balance. As a consequence, we regain our focus, our inspiration and creativity!

But through this process, it’s important to remember that associating your self worth with your productivity is not conducive to self love or a healthy self-perception in any measure long-term. You are not defined by how much content you churn out. You are not a machine. It’s the consumerist, capitalist society which has taught us that being productive = true value, but let’s be honest – that’s a load of nonsense!

Your value and your self worth is innate, inherent, guaranteed, non-negotiable. You have value simply by being, not by doing! That is why we are human beings, not human doings. You are worth it, you are good enough and you are lovable by the mere fact that you are, you exist! This fact is not dependent, now or ever, on what you can do for society.