Can You Really Be All About Everything?

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Last night I posted a picture on my Instagram feed which wasn’t really relevant to the comment below it and so I deleted it. It felt like a subject worthy of more than just an Instagram caption and something that I often struggle with so it’s time to put finger to keyboard and ponder the topic (in my best Carrie Bradshaw voice): Can You Really Be All About Everything?

Here’s the issue that can make me feel a bit anxious from time to time, questioning whether I’m really giving my all. These days we (and that’s not women by the way, but both genders) are meant to be everything. Women are supposed to work full-time but also be a Mum and keep home, have a great social life and a great relationship. Frequently, we’re also trying to hold down another activity such as running a business or a blog. Men are supposed to work full-time but also be a totally hands-on Dad and equally share the load of home life, be a supportive partner and enjoy their own social activities.

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So how does everyone keep on top of it all? Obviously I’m taking parenting out of the equation since I don’t have children but as most of you know by now, I work full time during the week and can often be found babbling away on Instastories first thing in the morning on my way to the station only to disappear for the rest of the day. I’ve been in my job since January 2003 and am really proud of going out to work.

Having been raised by strong, independent women (my Mum has worked her entire life and teaches still in her late 60s, my Gran was a nurse during WWII, my great-Aunt one of the first female qualified vets in the UK),  there is absolutely no question that anyone else would ever pay my way. When I’m at work that’s my focus, to do my job well, enjoy my days with my amazing colleagues and be the best manager to my team that I can, supporting and developing them.

And then there’s always been something else alongside work, from running my own business for 8 years selling children’s clothes online, to being a Samaritan for 6 years. Activities that I’ve managed alongside work because that hasn’t felt creatively fulfilling enough. They’ve taught me so much about myself too and I would never trade either of those experiences but of course the nature of life is that nothing lasts forever.

Which brings me to blogging and now I’m officially in my late-30s (sob!) I feel happier than ever. Every day as a blogger feels exciting, wondering what opportunities might land in your inbox, which of the virtual friends you might finally meet in real life. There just isn’t enough time for it though, not really. Or at least, there is if I sacrifice everything else outside of work. But I’m only human and when I see people having such lovely days whether it’s sitting in the garden with a cuppa or heading out to meet friends or even just being able to get things done around the house that we have to wait until the weekend for, it makes me realise how impossible it is to get the balance right.

But in my own little way perhaps everything is being juggled just fine, for now. I work hard at my job and work hard at my blog. There’s still time for fun and getting on with home projects and taking care of the fur-babies, fitting in my increasingly important runs and exercise, looking after myself. It will be really interesting to see what happens next week when my work trip to Florida takes place. My entire office are flying out next Wednesday and returning the following Monday and at least half the time is ‘down-time’. I don’t want to abandon social media for those 5 days but also want to really be in the moment with these guys because we are just going to have the best time.

Ultimately, it’s simply about appreciating don’t you think? Appreciating how lucky we are to even have these opportunities, to live in a country, a time, a world, where women can work, can provide, can go on nights out and live a bloody good life. I don’t believe in ‘having it all’, it’s such a bullshit statement because what does that even mean? All I do know is how very lucky I am, to be even given the chance to be All About Everything.

I’d love to hear what you think – are you juggling different aspects of life? Do you feel energised or exhausted? What are your tips to keeping afloat?

6 Comments

  1. May 9, 2017 / 7:17 am

    I just constantly feel like I’m not doing enough or I’m doing the wrong things. Your post struck a chord with me.

  2. Lucy
    May 9, 2017 / 9:04 am

    Me too Antonia I have to say. Some days it feels as if everything is just about OK, and others the scales tip completely in the wrong direction! I never find that everything is equally balanced at all times, more that I end up focussing on one area more for a while (e.g. work) and then rotating to another for a bit (e.g. health and exercise).

    But there are some days where this constant shift is really overwhelming and if I don’t have any down time to myself for a few weeks I really start to struggle. I feel very selfish if we have a rare weekend at home together and I want part of it alone to allow my brain to decompress: I feel like I should just have everything together and that this shouldn’t have to come at James’ expense. I am very much an overthinker if you couldn’t tell!

    Anyway, apologies for the waffle, it was really refreshing to read this post as too often I forget the key point you’ve summarised at the end of it. Thanks for reminding me 🙂 x

  3. May 9, 2017 / 10:34 pm

    Great topic! I don’t think you can have it all.. at least not at the same time! I think we all feel the pressure from time to time and it’s a shame to waste your life worrying about things that, let’s face it, don’t really matter in the long run. Or maybe they do (a bit) but surely your own happiness is more important! X

    • Lins
      Author
      May 15, 2017 / 9:31 pm

      Thank you so much Pia for stopping by. I totally agree, happiness is the ultimate aim – at least it really should be. It’s good to talk though isn’t it so that we know we’re not feeling these things in isolation Xx

  4. May 17, 2017 / 2:52 pm

    OMG, yes, to all of this Lins. So accurately sums up how I feel about life right now – that I’m not really giving anything my all and just doing all the things in a bit of a mediocre fashion, and it is scary for someone who likes to give everything 100% if possible. These days I’d put myself at more like 18% for some activities!! :-O I keep hoping that things will calm down and that I will have more time for certain things, but it never happens, and now I am about to add a child to the equation so I am guessing it never will. Which means I need to let go, and to stop wanting to do everything to the best of my abilities, and accept that I can’t do that 24/7. Or I need to reevaluate my life in a major way, and I don’t want to do that, because as much as I am juggling, it is all things I love, and overall life has never been better, so maybe I just need to be a little more organised and a little less hard on myself. And by the way – from the outside looking in, it looks like you manage doing everything all at once exceptionally well!! I am always marvelling at your productivity! xx

    • Lins
      Author
      May 28, 2017 / 9:00 pm

      Anna I think there are so many of us who feel that we need to be less hard on ourselves. It’s strange isn’t it that we live in a world where in theory everything is easier but I just don’t know if I have an easier time of it than say my Grandma did. Of course there are more opportunities and rights and for that I’m so grateful but we’re still expected to work and keep home and have a life and everything else. Le Sigh. I guess if there was an easy answer we’d be very wealthy 😉 Xx

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