Comments on: Rejecting a Culture of Scarcity

By: Traci Levy

Traci Levy — Tue, 06 Dec 2022 15:36:24 +0000

In reply to Maggie. Thanks for sharing your insights and helpful practices, Maggie. I so hear you! I love the focus on space. It seems like a great antidote to that feeling that everything is too much. If we can find the spaces, surely that helps! (As does whittling back the to-do list. ;)

By: Maggie

Maggie — Tue, 06 Dec 2022 01:14:26 +0000

This is a powerful post and an important reminder. Thank you, Traci. I feel that I have the same struggles you faced. And, it’s quite counterintuitive. When I engage in healthful practices, I feel so much better! I’ve become ill more than once from overwork–how many times does that need to happen to get the message?

I was recently doing a meditation about space–the space between each breath, the space between sipping my tea and putting down my teacup, the space between getting off public transport and getting the office and how each of these spaces can offer a moment or more for self reflection and mindfulness. This is one of the practices I’ve been doing this past week.

By: Traci Levy

Traci Levy — Tue, 04 May 2021 15:08:37 +0000

In reply to Nazanin.

I can so relate, Nazanin. And, I know you have a full-time job and an amazing tea-related business! Love the tea stickers, stationery, bookmarks, jewelry–everything–I have bought from your amazing shop, http://www.teathoughts.shop/. I can see how 2 jobs–and being an entrepreneur, would really ratchet up that sense of time scarcity. Good luck with your recalibration, and may you be gentle with yourself as you find your way. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by and sharing.

By: Nazanin

Nazanin — Mon, 03 May 2021 23:10:58 +0000

Thanks so much for sharing! Trying to balance work, my business and every other part of life, I often go to bed thinking I didn’t do enough. It leaves such a pit in my stomach and also makes me feel less than. I do make time to workout everyday and I DO NOT infringe on that time but I did start meditating daily last september and in the last month realize I am not all there during meditation. Sometimes I’m answering emails or packing an order and I tell myself it’s ok I’m still being mindful and not “wasting” 15 or 20 minutes. This is my nudge to go back to what I was doing before 🙂

By: Traci Levy

Traci Levy — Mon, 03 May 2021 16:29:14 +0000

In reply to Jackie.

JACKIE: Thank you so much for sharing! Wow–I can relate to no demarcation between where I work and where I live during COVID. I have gotten better with a lot of effort these last few months about not working on the weekend, but it’s still a struggle not to peek at and respond to work emails. (I feel ridiculous typing that. Trying not to do my work on the weekend feels like overcoming an addiction to me.) And, I hadn’t even given full thought to the fact that I rarely just listen to my audio books. I often listen while “being productive,” too. Thanks for helping me realize that by sharing. Sending solidarity your way! Hoping we can find ways to just be and breathe without having to feel “productive.” –Traci

By: Jackie

Jackie — Mon, 03 May 2021 15:17:10 +0000

I 100% struggle with scarcity! Especially in a work-at-home environment where I occasionally have to balance child care responsibilities alongside work responsibilities. There isn’t a clear distinction between when the workday ends and when the homelife begins. Also, I spent nearly every day of 2020 “at work”, not allowing myself weekends or PTO days or sick days. I was constantly trying to get ahead at work so I could be prepared for whatever new obstacle the pandemic threw my way. I’m really feeling the effects of it in 2021, too.

I’m currently trying to battle burnout by NOT working weekends anymore, but I can’t seem to actually allow myself leisure time. I always seem to mix a relaxing activity with something that produces results. Like, instead of sitting down to read and enjoy a cup of tea, I listen to audiobooks while cleaning the house. Or, recently, my husband suggested I take a nap (because I was battling a cold that was making me tired), and I told him napping felt like a waste of time. I am very much aware that all of this is productivity anxiety created by our culture, and yet I still struggle with intentionally giving myself time to rest. It’s such a hard thing to reject!