Muscles and Munchkins

Lifting more than just my kids

  • About Me
    • Contact
    • Disclaimer
  • Family
    • Activities
    • My Munchkins
    • Parenting
  • Fitness
    • Living a Fit Life
    • Fit Pregnancy
    • Post Baby
    • Fit Kids
    • Fit Parent
    • Running
  • Food
    • Recipes
    • Feeding the Munchkins
    • Holiday Cooking
    • What I Ate Wednesday
  • Fun
    • Friday’s Favorites
    • Weekend Recaps
    • Travel
  • Workouts
    • Gym Workouts
    • No Equipment Workouts
    • Running Workouts
    • Stroller Workouts
    • Workout of the Week
  • Work with Me
  • Online Boot Camp

Less Hustle, More Balance

September 29, 2016 By Hollie Leave a Comment

Lately I have struggled to sit down and write, to post, to share, and to inspire.  It is not because of the lack of ideas; I have a long list of content ideas.  I have struggled to post because when I actually have the time to post I am either too tired or there are other things I want to do instead.  For so long I have been trying to stop hustling and have been longing for more balance in my life.  

Less Hustle

This third child of mine has changed me.  I don’t want to hustle.  I am not as concerned about my page views or my followers.  Instead, I am choosing to live in the moment and take each day as it comes.  If I am inspired to write a post, great and if not, that is fine too.  If I feel inspired to run an online bootcamp or to create an online program than great and if not, that works too.  This is a season, and I want to fully embrace this season.

I am a go-getter by nature, I like to hustle and sometimes I don’t like that about myself.  This has been an ongoing struggle for me.  This past Spring I was picking strawberries with my kids and some of our friends when I remember saying to a friend, “I wish I could just be.” Later that day and night I thought to myself, “well why can’t I?” I can.  I can just be.

The Struggle

But could I?  The truth is I struggle with just being.  While pregnant I was saying yes to more things.  I was adding more classes to my schedule, teaching early in the mornings and feeling guilty that some days I would spend nap time sleeping myself when my to-do list for this side gig of mine was never-ending.  There was so many things I wanted to do, but never the time to do it and it left me feeling guilty and overwhelmed.  I love fitness, I love healthy living and I love sharing my journey to balance it all, but didn’t have balance myself.  I longed for more meaningful friendships and more days of just playing with my kids.  I wanted to spend more time in God’s Word and not so much time in the word of other bloggers.  I wanted to sit on the couch next to my husband and not have this lingering feeling that I should be tackling a list, creating a freebie or writing a workout.  I wanted to read, and not just read those non fiction books, but I wanted to get lost in the pages of a good fiction book.  And I wanted to do this more than just once or twice a year when we take a vacation.

Saying NO

This third baby came at the best time in my life because as I struggled with all of this, I didn’t feel as guilty starting to say no to things (notice the word starting).  But then as soon as I would say no to one thing, I would add something else.  Seems to be the story of my life.

I have stepped down from being the 5k chair to an organization near and dear to my heart.  I have lightened my class load and am teaching less live classes.  I have given myself grace when I only write one blog post a week.  I don’t worry about if I don’t have my social media posts scheduled out for the day or whether or not I am following my content calendar.  I have turned down opportunities to write sponsored posts and to grow this blog and fitness business of mine.  I have even ditched my paper planner and my to-do list.

Saying YES!

I have said yes to another online bootcamp.  I continue to volunteer my time at church in our fitness ministry.  I have joined a MOPS group at my church.  I have started playing tennis one night a week.  I have said yes to two book clubs.  I have joined a Bible study.  My kids and I are a part of a playgroup.  My husband and I have committed to working harder on our marriage.

You see what has happened? I say no to one thing and add three others.  The difference is I somehow feel balanced.  I only have to be at the gym one day a week instead of 4.  I am spending time in God’s word daily and have finished my first fiction book since December!  Instead of rushing from one thing to another, I find myself being more present.

Being Present

For me, being more present means if I want to sit on the couch and snuggle this sweet guy of mine in the middle of the afternoon, I do it.  If MD asks me to play catch even when I have a never-ending to-do list, I do it.  And if C wants me to do a craft, read a book, or bake cookies, most of the time we do.  And if Josh wants to play cards at night or sit down and watch a show, I am going to choose that first too.

Moving Forward

Am I giving up my blog and my online fitness groups? Absolutely not!  I love them and they too, make me feel balanced.  The difference is I am letting go of the pressure I feel.  If I don’t get up a post one week, it is fine.  I will run my online bootcamps and write online programs when I feel inspired and only to an extent that will still allow me to be more present and do all the other things I am enjoying.

There will be a time for that hustle… maybe… right now is not the time.  I know I will never look back on this time and say, “man, I wish I would have gotten up one more blog post this week or ran one more online program this month.”  I have struggled to find balance in my life for so long and I think I have finally found it…

Filed Under: Family, Parenting Tagged With: balancing life, being present, living life

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

FitFluential Is Fitness Found

Recent Posts

  • Friday’s Five Favorites #48
  • 5 Healthy Meals Ready in Less than 10 Minutes
  • Postpartum Fitness Journey: 3 Months
  • Less Hustle, More Balance
  • Costco Favorites: My Go-To Costco Items

Categories

Copyright © 2022 MusclesandMunchkins.com | Design by Moritz Fine Designs