Let yourself rest
It’s been a year. I am tired. And I’m sure that you, dear reader, are tired too.
We’ve been designing, coding, engineering, and working our way through a global pandemic. Some of us have lost jobs, some of us have burned out, and some of us have lost friends and family. I’m here to tell you to take a step back, breathe, and know that you are seen.
We’ve been thrust in an environment where, after a year of working and learning remotely, the lines between work, family, and yourself have already merged in to one. We’re in an environment where we’re expected to excel at work and be grateful that we still have a job. Although some of us are starting to see light at the end of the tunnel, a lot of us are feeling the threat of COVID-19 closing in on our personal networks.
Day after day, we see ourselves still persevering, surviving despite everything that has happened. After all, your startup just got funded. Sales are at a record high. You just snagged that promotion. You aced that interview for an opportunity abroad.
But the reality is that nothing is okay. We have all been affected by this pandemic in one way or another and its important for you to know that you are not the only one. I am not here to inspire you to pick yourself up and hustle your way to a better future. You and I know that that’s bullshit. I’m here to let you know that it’s okay to not be at your best right now. It’s okay to sleep in during the weekends. It’s okay to close your work apps and keep playing video games until midnight. It’s okay to be vulnerable and to stray from your brand.
We all have our own little ways of surviving this pandemic. What’s important is that you let yourself rest.
The grind and the hustle can and should wait. Take care of yourself first.
