An afternoon of oblivion
I paused my day this afternoon.
I'm completely overwhelmed with work, feeling the complexity and depth of tasks intensifying.
My husband, a wise man, consistently advises, 'Keep it simple' and 'Less is more.' He doesn't suggest doing things half-heartedly but urges me to focus on what's in front of me first. 'Who's chasing you?' he asks whenever I come to him with complaints.
Truth is, no one is chasing me.
Awkward.
Then why am I focusing on the overwhelm and not the work? It’s not that simple I feel. How do I keep it simple, when it’s overwhelmed?
Interestingly, “Simplicité”, is also the word I chose for this year to remind myself to feel less overwhelming with what life throws at me.
“At every moment keep a sturdy mind on the task at hand, as a Roman and human being, doing it with strict and simple dignity, affection, freedom, and justice—giving yourself a break from all other considerations. You can do this if you approach each task as if it is your last, giving up every distraction, emotional subversion of reason, and all drama, vanity, and complaint over your fair share. You can see how mastery over a few things makes it possible to live an abundant and devout life—for, if you keep watch over these things, the gods won’t ask for more.”
—MARCUS AURELIUS, MEDITATIONS, 2.5 (“Keep it simple”, The Daily Stoic, 29th January)
I need to remind myself these isn’t about not knowing practical steps to prioritise the work but to address feelings of overwhelm by taking break (loads of breaks when I am needed to!) to recharge. This is as if even for few minutes, not to think or plot a strategy in my brain, not to briefly scrolling my phone or even try to read books.
Simplest things I can do to overcome those feelings is taking the afternoon off and do nothing for awhile.
An afternoon of oblivion, like a spell on me to detach from the mundane and veil the many!
That can help.
This is what I can control at this very moment, to let everything to sink, so that I can return to my desk to navigate with greater ease.
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