Reminders For When Things Feel Off-Track
- Lay Jordan
- 15 hours ago
- 8 min read
Life has a way of throwing curveballs at our plans. As someone who constantly speaks about how the ideal of personal development is what convinces us to do things in an intense way or else results won’t come, I had to share this. Despite my best intentions, the hectic schedule of the past week left me so drained. It's a familiar frustration that many people, no matter the type of goals they are doing: wanting to start each week with fresh energy and positivity, while sometimes feeling like we're falling short of our own expectations.
Ironically, while editing my latest podcast episode about "Tips to Avoid the Summer Slump," I found myself teetering on the edge of a slump myself. It is out now, and you can use the following link to check out my latest podcast episode on avoiding the summer slump.
Where to listen:
I designed this podcast episode specifically so you can return to it whenever those summer blues start creeping in. Working on it actually inspired me to create these reminders for those weekly slumps we all face (you know, those moments when everything feels overwhelming and we worry we're falling off track). Because let's be honest, sometimes we need more than just seasonal pick-me-ups; we need strategies for those regular moments when life gets a bit too intense.
Let me share something that really drove this home for me. So, I have the worst time anxiety (like, seriously bad), and recently my mom spontaneously suggested we spend a day together. I was hesitant at first because, you know, unplanned things usually stress me out. But I went for it, and wow. That day turned into this beautiful memory that showed me not just how amazing my mom is, but also the kind of person I want to be: someone who can just go with the flow and find those little moments of joy in the unexpected stuff life throws at us.
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10 Essential Reminders to Support You When Life Feels Overwhelming
1. You Can Find Wisdom in Uncertainty
When things feel messy and uncertain, it's completely normal to feel overwhelmed. This week taught me that confusion often leads to new insights. I found myself struggling with my schedule, yet this exact struggle helped me discover better ways to manage my work. Being uncomfortable with uncertainty is natural, but accepting it helped me find solutions I wouldn't have considered before. Instead of resisting difficult moments, I learned to acknowledge them as opportunities for growth. This shift in perspective helped me handle unexpected changes with more resilience and creativity.
Affirmation: "I welcome uncertainty as the birthplace of innovation and growth."
2. You Can Be Both Structured and Adaptable
This week taught me the importance of having both consistent routines and the ability to adapt. Some parts of my schedule need to stay fixed. My writing practice helps me stay focused. But I also learned to identify which tasks can shift when life gets unpredictable. Being flexible with my content creation schedule while maintaining core habits helped me stay productive without burning out. Finding this balance requires ongoing practice. I've discovered that sustainable success comes from knowing when to hold firm to routines and when to adjust them based on circumstances.
Affirmation: "I am grounded yet flexible, stable yet adaptable, focused yet free."
3. You Can Grow Through Purposeful Challenges
This week taught me an important lesson about personal growth. True progress happens when we choose the right challenges that move us forward while protecting our wellbeing. I noticed how pushing myself too hard affected my creativity and focus. Understanding our limits isn't about avoiding discomfort. It's about recognizing when pushing through will help us grow and when it might harm us. This awareness helps us expand our capabilities while staying energized and motivated. Growth isn't about constant strain. It's about making conscious choices that serve our long-term development.
Affirmation: "I choose challenges that strengthen me and release those that drain me."
4. You Can Flow with Your Energy Cycles
This week showed me how much our energy levels naturally rise and fall throughout the day. I noticed that forcing myself to maintain high productivity during low-energy periods only led to frustration and burnout. When I accepted these natural fluctuations in my energy, I found better ways to organize my tasks. I now schedule demanding work during my peak hours and lighter tasks when my energy dips. This simple adjustment has helped me accomplish more while feeling less drained. Understanding and working with your energy patterns creates a more sustainable approach to achieving your goals.
Affirmation: "I flow with my natural rhythms, knowing each phase serves my growth."
5. You Can Manage Tasks Strategically
I learned this week that leaving tasks strategically unfinished can maintain motivation for the next day. When I stopped working at key moments instead of forcing completion, I found myself eager to return to the task. This approach needs self trust and acceptance that not everything must be finished immediately. Taking intentional breaks from tasks can actually help us accomplish more over time. The key is recognizing when to continue working and when a strategic pause will serve us better.
Affirmation: "I trust in the power of strategic pauses to fuel my progress."
6. You Can Make Rest a Priority
Recovery needs to be proactive rather than reactive. This week taught me how important it is to build rest into my schedule before reaching complete exhaustion. When I consciously made time to recharge between tasks, my work quality improved significantly. Setting boundaries around my rest time proved challenging at first, but I realized it was essential for maintaining consistent energy levels throughout the week. Rest is not a reward for being productive. It is a fundamental requirement for doing our best work. The quality of our downtime directly impacts our ability to show up fully for our projects and responsibilities.
Affirmation: "I honor my need for recovery as the foundation of my success."
7. You Can Master One Thing at a Time
This week showed me how difficult it can be to focus in our distracting world. I found myself constantly fighting the urge to check notifications or switch between tasks. Through intentional practice, I learned to create specific times for focused work. I set clear boundaries by turning off notifications and creating a dedicated workspace. Managing my mental energy became crucial. I discovered that planning focused work during my peak hours led to better results. Regular breaks helped maintain my concentration throughout the day. The benefits became clear quickly. Not only did I complete more work, but I also found more joy and creativity in my tasks. This focused approach helped me stay present and engaged with my work in ways multitasking never could.
Affirmation: "I cultivate depth in my work and presence in my life."
8. You Can Embrace Your Personal Uniqueness
I've learned this week that authenticity comes from accepting our imperfections. When we stop trying to fix every quirk and limitation, we discover they actually make our work unique. Pushing for perfection drains our energy. Instead, we can focus on making meaningful contributions. The parts of ourselves we often try to hide end up creating the strongest connections with others. Success comes from working with our imperfections, not against them.
Affirmation: "My imperfections are integral to my unique contribution to the world."
9. You Can Practice Purposeful Release
I learned this week that letting go of control can be incredibly powerful when done thoughtfully. It's essential to recognize which aspects of our work and life we can truly influence and which ones we need to release. Through my recent experiences, I discovered that developing a strong sense of timing helps determine when to take action and when to step back. This balance has helped me achieve better results without draining my energy. Success comes from staying committed to our goals while remaining flexible about how we reach them.
Affirmation: "I trust in perfect timing and release what I cannot control."
10. You Can Keep Growing Every Day
Personal growth requires us to expand our understanding of what we can experience and contribute to life. This week taught me the importance of pushing past my comfort zone while still honoring my limits. I learned that growth happens when we challenge our assumptions about what we can achieve. Our potential for development has no limits. We grow both internally through self-discovery and externally through our impact on others. Real progress comes from developing multiple aspects of ourselves at once.
Affirmation: "I expand continuously, embracing all dimensions of my growth."
Remember: These principles aren't just concepts to understand intellectually, they're practices to embody daily. Return to them whenever you need to realign with your deeper purpose and potential.
Final Thoughts: The Balance of Growth and Rest
While this might not be my usual Monday mindset post, I felt it was important to share the reality that personal growth isn't always about pushing your limits to the maximum. Sometimes, the bravest thing we can do is acknowledge when we need to slow down and recalibrate. This isn't about giving up on our ambitions; it's about understanding that sustainable success requires both momentum and mindfulness.
We need to balance pushing ourselves with taking breaks. Sometimes we need to work hard and challenge ourselves, but it's just as important to know when to slow down. Taking strategic breaks isn't about giving up; it's about being smart about how we use our energy so we can keep moving forward in a way that lasts.
The beauty of personal development lies in its cyclical nature. Some days we'll feel unstoppable, ready to conquer every goal on our list. Other days, we'll need to focus on small, meaningful actions that keep us connected to our purpose without burning out. Both types of days are equally valuable in our journey.
Remember, true growth happens not just in the moments of intense effort, but in the quiet spaces between, where we learn to balance our ambitions with our wellbeing. These moments of reflection and recalibration aren't just okay…they're essential. They're what transform temporary progress into lasting change, and ambitious goals into sustainable achievements. That's the kind of growth that not only lasts but also enriches every aspect of our lives.
I hope you enjoyed this post and found it interesting. Also, if you like my content, it would mean the world to me if you would also subscribe to my YouTube channel, my Pinterest, and my TikTok account. On YouTube, I have the most inspirational content from Lifestyle Design posts to Digital "open when..." letters to boost your mood. I also keep a copy of my podcast episodes (which are also available on Spotify). I decided that I am honoring what feels right to me and continuously working on building the life of my dreams and helping others do the same. Don’t forget to share this if you feel inspired, and I will have more content for you soon.
Until next time, butterflies 🦋 Sincerely yours
Xoxo,
Lay 💋