After one of the mildest October’s in recent memory, I woke up this morning to the first snowfall of the year. My favorite part of a snowy day is how quiet the outside world becomes. It’s as if the world is resting and all I hear is the soft pitter pat of falling snow. After the hectic happenings of October and early November, some quiet is a welcome change. Has it snowed in your corner of the world yet?

I started a new job a few months ago, moving from a completely remote position back to an office full of people. It was a good move and I’m happy to be working with folks in-person once more. However, as I’ve settled into this new cadence of work life, I’ve started to notice some smaller issues that, if left unchecked, could lead to burnout and exhaustion.

After many years of trial and error, I understand exactly what my limits are when it comes to my work. I know exactly how much energy I can devote to my job before burnout ensues. I also know how to maximize my time. I don’t believe in filling up 40 hours a week with busy work. I don’t volunteer for committees or work groups or anything else, unless I know it somehow make my team’s job easier. I consistently focus on the most important parts of my job and largely let the rest go. I think I may be considered a “Quiet Quitter” but really, I’m just good at putting boundaries in place. It’s my career superpower.

But even with all my experience, it’s still exhausting to stand up to the toxic work culture that permeates so much of the American psyche. If we are idle, we are bad. If we aren’t putting in 110% are we even working? Checking emails after hours and weekends is just part of the job. Right? And so on and so on….

And lately I have felt like I am being swept up in a tide of office chaos, running from one fire to another, always busy but not accomplishing much. It is incredibly frustrating, not to mention emotionally draining. And so I’ve been making a concentrated effort to return to my own truth and work in a way that is best for me. Because ultimately that benefits everyone.

Which brings me to this week’s featured printable - a gentle reminder for myself that it’s okay to slow down and rest. It’s okay to trust yourself. It’s okay to feel at peace in a world that is full of chaos. So, if you’ve been feeling overwhelmed by work or life, I hope this helps you as well.