take on only those obligations I can comfortably handle

Offers for work Friday night, for the rest of the month and into March, parties…. All answered with, “Gosh, thank you, but I really can’t.”

Yet somehow, I’m still finding the energy & time to do the things that I want to do, like go to the Roller Derby, tee hee… you know, the things I can comfortably handle!

As I write this, I’m feeling like I may have accomplished this goal. Hmmm…

I did the hard job yesterday! Yippee!

Now I must be very careful to not take on any more difficult projects for a while!

I had a spectacularly rough year last year, and my general credo of pushing myself to my own limits has to be suspended while I regather my strength. While I am a fan of challenging myself, I realize more and more every day that this is not the time to do that.

I took on a job for today that is definitely out of my range… I haven’t prepared properly (although I have done better than my partner, which I am using to rationalize my procrastination), and I am just wanting it to be over.

The good news is, it will be over tonight by about 6 pm, and I can do anything for 12 hours that would apall me if I had to keep it up for a lifetime.

I will show up, do my best, and remember to decline the next hard thing that comes my way.

Tonight, an assignment ended early, and I was offered another one that would add 2.5 hrs to my day. I’m getting out of debt, and I need the money, BUT I was tired, and needed to get home. I could not comfortably take on the obligation.

Interestingly enough, when I got home, I got sick to my stomach (something I ate?) I sure was happy to be at home!

I am an independent worker, and so every few months, I need to reinvent the wheel, and craft my own schedule.

I had a difficult time holding fast on the insane Monday schedule, but I did it! Instead of working mondays from 10am-10pm, I am working a more manageable 12pm-10pm (with a 2-hour break in the middle), for the same money.

I am looking forard to sleeping in and starting the week at noon!

A junior colleague of mine, whose work ethic doesn’t even come close to meeting my standards, has asked me to provide a professional reference for her.

I must decline, and I am so uncomfortable doing so! But I recommended her once for a job where she has been woefully unprofessional, and I cannot in good conscience make the recommendation.

Any tips on how to decline her request politely and gently would be greatly appreciated…

The coordinator for a project I’m working sent out some payroll information, and asked us to pass it along to our junior colleagues.

I work in a creative position, not in accounting or management, and I replied with a polite declination. I explained that my colleague should receive the information from someone who could answer any questions that arise, and that I would maintain my role as a creative consultant.

It’s always nerve-wracking for me to hit “send” on those sorts of things, but I did it, and I’m glad!

The more I know myself, the easier it will be to accomplish this goal:

• conference work
• getting my hair done- it’s an all-day affair, and afterward, my adrenal levels are haywire!
• dates with men I’m not interested in
• dates with men that aren’t interested in me
• spending any time at all with the loser, user girlfriends
• working when I’m sick
• coming back to work after travel without a full 36 hours to decompress
• returning to a full-bore work schedule after travel- I’m much better when I ease into it incrementally
• “see and be seen” social events- too taxing for me!
• getting drunk- my body does not like it!

I’ve returned from my retreat to voice mail and e-mail inboxes full of requests for my time. Mostly professional, some social, and a bit of healing work.

I’m taking the weekend to fully consider what I can comfortably handle, before agreeing to any of it (although I’d like to do it all!).

Thank goodness I have this goal!

At work, they are taking up a collection to give a gift of appreciation to the boss, whom I don’t appreciate all that much.

Plus, I gave her a Christmas gift.

And, I am getting out of debt.

I am not contributing!