Do you ever feel like you can’t keep up? Everything is moving forward, you have to forge ahead while keeping all the balls in the air, your day is scheduled with work and family and kids, you don’t have a moment of calm from the time you wake up until you go to bed and then you wake up and do it all over again the very next day…
Can you relate? I can. Geez… it’s exhausting.
It’s so fast-paced. It never stops. When a client compared it to a whirly ride, I knew exactly what he meant. I’m on this Beach Cities Health District Mental Health Task Force which is looking at the mental health of our local teens. And the question comes up — why are our kids struggling? Why do they feel so pressured? Their parents claim that they aren’t pressuring them and yet these teens feel pushed to the brink. My theory —it is because their parents don’t have to say anything for them to understand. Their parents are living and breathing the very same thing. When we exist on this whirly ride that never stops, we are showing our children that this is what life is and what it’s supposed to be.
We live in a culture that values being busy and exhausted but the problem with this is that we end up feeling overwhelmed and rundown.
When someone asks you how you’re doing, it’s almost taboo not to say “busy.’“ Why? Why do we have to be so ridiculously busy all the time?
To tell you the truth, I don’t know the solution to this. I know it’s a problem, but I don’t know how to fix it exactly. I live and breathe it myself. Every day. Running around, always feeling like it’s never enough and I can’t get it all done. I do my best and still, I have to go up and down the stairs between the laundry room and my room because I never get around to putting all my clothes away. And all I have is this—
We need to model self-care too. We need to get off the whirly ride sometimes and take a breath. And maybe it’s okay to miss a practice now and again or to take a day off from all of it, not because you’re sick. Because you need time off the whirly ride before you throw up over the side of it or really do get sick and have to stay home.
We live fast paced lives of constant movement and exhaustion. Our children watch us do it and learn that they must do it even when we communicate otherwise to them.
What would it be like if we didn’t have to always be on the whirly ride like this? How do we collectively make it stop?
Do your part. Slow down. Just for a moment. Let your kids slow down. Don’t fill your quiet moments with the noise of social media or mindless television. Notice what it’s like to just be for a few minutes. Just be. Let your kids do the same.
Get off the whirly ride and remember what it feels like to be off of it.
The Team Behind the Message:
At Beach Cities Psychotherapy, our team of dedicated therapists truly care about your well-being. We are passionate about sharing valuable information to support and guide you on your journey. Whether you’re facing life’s challenges or seeking personal growth, our team is here to ensure you receive the compassionate care and support you deserve. We’re committed to helping you navigate through your concerns and are always here to take care of you every step of the way.
More From Us:
Managing Holiday-Specific Stress: Finding Your Calm Amidst the Chaos
Managing Holiday-Specific Stress The holidays add a unique flavor of stress because everything feels a little higher-stakes. The festive decor, the family photos, the big meal—these all put added pressure to “keep the peace.” Here are some tips for handling...
Professional Burnout: Spotting the Signs and Taking Your Energy Back
Ever feel like your job is draining the life out of you? Like you’re pushing a boulder uphill every day only for it to roll back down? That’s the silent thief called professional burnout creeping in. Professional burnout is more than just feeling tired or ready for...
Self Care Practices: Why Self Care Is Essential for Mental Health
Self-care: it’s one of those terms we hear all the time, yet we often overlook its importance. For anyone still on the fence, here’s the scoop—self care isn’t just bubble baths and “me time” (although, who doesn’t love that?). Practicing good self care actually has...