It is confirmed: we will move to a new apartment in 3 months! Fantastic news, considering it took us over a year to find something suitable, but obviously, it is no big news that finding a decently priced apartment in any bigger city is a nightmare. đ
I am as happy as I am terrified about the move because it just happens to take place at the same time when I am just weeks away from my German government licensing exam for psychotherapy (alternative practitioner), I am middle of my coaching course and trying to promote my coaching services, + I have my demanding full-time job to do! Besides that, I would still like to eat, sleep and work out! Phew! đ
Am I taking on too much at the same time? Or is this all doable? How can I prepare myself for this foreseeably stressful period, especially knowing that I am most likely giving up on that all without proper sleep and exercise? How can I keep my cortisol levels under control?
Well, the first thing to accept is that despite the stressful period, there wonât be more hours in a day, and I wonât be able to charge myself like an electric car. Hence, I can sprint for a few weeks or a month, but knowing myself, I cannot sprint for 3-4 months. Most of us canât.Â
Also, in such a scenario, it is a lot about projecting the future that we need to be aware of. We are stressed about something that is not here yet, so try to keep that in mind and be present as much as you can. Nevertheless, it would make sense to prepare, doesnât it?
So what options do we have?
Scenario 1 â You have time to prepare for a stressful period
It all comes down to preparation, scheduling, milestones, focus, and accountability. You may be able to create the best project plan divided into small and doable tasks, but if you are not able to follow through and take action, itâs useless. The biggest challenge in this scenario is how to do what I said I would be doing?
Letâs face it: like in school, trying to memorize the last 3 monthsâ material in a few hours the night before the exam, we may be well aware of a huge project to happen in a month or two or three, but how many of us start preparing on time? The majority wonât because there is no sense of urgency. The tighter the schedule, the more stressed we get and the faster we move.Â
How to get yourself moving earlier for the sake of your well-being? Start small, even if it seems to be a micro-step that doesnât make any difference, overcome limiting beliefs and manage your emotions. Read more about it in this article:
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Scenario 2 â You have little or no time to prepare
Drop everything that is not urgent and focus only on important things that require immediate attention. I hate to say this word, as I have heard it soooo many times in my 9-5, but you need to prioritize. Think of the Eisenhower Matrix.
If I wrote this post in late August, I would focus on moving because this is urgent and needs to get done. I would most likely postpone my exam (depending on how much I have already been able to study) as it is not bringing immediate value to my life. As coaching is my side hustle, I would minimize my hours here or take âoffâ from it for a month or two. I might take a week off from my full-time job if necessary.Â
The biggest challenge here, at least for me, would be letting things go and managing the emotion of disappointment and failure, as I donât get to do everything I had planned. If you ever feel this way, the recommendation is to treat yourself with compassion and love, as beating up does not, surprise-surprise, make you feel any better!Â
What will happen if I wouldnât be able to take this exam in October? What will happen if I donât do any coaching for a month or two? In the big picture, it probably doesnât make any difference. If anything, stepping temporarily away from a goal one has worked on hard for a while tends to give new insights and open up other creative senses. So, on the contrary, such situations may turn out very beneficial. Think about it as zooming out from something for a while, seeing a bigger picture, and then re-entering. Remember, skipping something for a while is less important than getting back on track later. Accept it, donât resist it.Â
I hope you enjoyed the article! Looking forward to your thoughts in the comment section! đŹ
Light & love,
Liis