Hey guys. How are you? I’m exhausted. There. I said it. I’ve been so busy trying to do all the things that I really think I’ve overextended myself. I’m really trying to get my little homesteading business up and running but I’m not sure how it’s really going. I’m teaching classes but not really selling anything. I have my products in two retail locations and I’d like to do more festivals but there doesn’t seem to be any down time to research and apply. I did apply to the Taproot Makers Market so I’ll keep my fingers crossed on that one. But let me be real honest. I’m tired. I’m tired of the hustle. I’m running all day and not getting enough sleep. I know. This is what the hustle is about. But I’m doing it solo. Everything you see or read that I am doing. I’m doing it by myself. The garden is a mess. I still have things to plant. Like in containers in the spot where they need to be planted. But just not planted. I have other homestead plans that need to get implemented but aren’t. There’s not time. I have classes to write and conduct. Those are definitely getting done but it takes time. A lot of time. I put everything into those classes. I take all my own pictures for each class. Edit them. Add them to my presentation. Make notes on my presentations. Purchase the supplies. Put it all together and then conduct the classes. It’s a lot. And I’m grateful for the opportunity to do them. I really like the classes. I like sharing my knowledge. I like meeting new people (which is weird since I’m truly an introvert inside. I just don’t always show it. Small talk is HARD). I’m also working at least 2 jobs in two completely different locations, 3 if you count the classes I’m teaching. 4 if you count the work I do for the fishing lodge (mowing mostly).
But you guys. I feel like I’m giving and giving and working and working and there’s been no self care. I’ve taken a moment here and there but nothing to really help me relax and recharge. I hit a wall today. I’m done. I can’t add anything else to my August (and August hasn’t even started yet!). So here’s my plan, and I think it’s a sound one. I’m going to keep with my commitments that I’ve already booked–which include 2 classes, commissioned knitting (done by the end of August), fair entries (fun, I know, but still a commitment), a couple of get together’s with friends (again, fun, but still commitments), and working one of the two jobs mentioned above. And that’s it. I’m saying no to everything else for August. I. just. can’t. I need some down time. I need some time to really assess the homesteading business. I feel like I am pouring everything into it, financially, physically, emotionally, and I need to step back and assess. I need a business plan. A marketing plan. I can’t keep putting things in to it without assessing how things are going. So I’m taking some time away. Maybe from the blog, maybe from social media. Or at least not worrying about it. That’s the other thing. I am trying to market the business and my homestead (aka the blog, webshop, social media, etc) so much so that if I can’t get to the blog, webshop, social media, it makes me anxious. That’s not what this is supposed to be about. It’s supposed to be fun. Hard work, yes. But also fun. And it’s just not. Not right now. July has been one of my busiest months yet but I can’t really say for sure that it was ‘successful’. I need some down time to evaluate what worked, what didn’t, how to proceed. To recuperate, relax, sit by the pool, work on projects around the homestead.
By the end of August I hope to have a good handle on how to move the homesteading business forward. Drop things that aren’t working, add things that I can manage, and keep doing what works. I think that’s a fine goal. So I’m putting this out there. I’m hoping it will help keep me accountable to saying ‘no’ until the end of August. I have so much paperwork to do and I want to spend time with the family and on the homestead. That’s where my August needs to be. So you can see things are ‘stormy’ so I gave you one picture of that storm! We’ll see a rainbow at the end of the storm. I’m positive about that!
Sharon Hadley
Smart woman!
chickenlibrarian
Thank you Sharon. ❤️❤️
Daenel T.
You are busy, Lady. Take some time to take care of you and figure out your next move. Life is too short to be anxious and stressed. Life is too long to be anxious and stressed. Make sense? Sending love your way.
chickenlibrarian
It’s about time. I’ve felt very overwhelmed for a while and it’s funny how you put it out there and instantly feel better. Lighter. I think I can get through my commitments and take some time for myself now. Thank you sweet friend ❤️❤️
Tracy
There is a wonderful quote that says: You must fill your own well first.
I endeavor to keep that in mind as much as possible. I used to run, run, run… oh, must do THIS… oh, I have to do THAT if I want to be successful… oh, the book said to take these steps EVERY DAY… oh, this marketing / business / life “guru” said to do that… blah blah blah. Oh, and I spent A LOT of money over the years to try and make my intentions (dreams) happen. Of course some good (great) things happened, but mostly of their own accord and in ways I didn’t intend or expect.
It’s simply not possible to do it all. Unfortunately, people who are already high achievers – and I assume you probably are – are doing so much to work towards the life that they desire that adding in other “must do’s” just makes it too much to handle.
Turn off the voices (both the outside and inside your head voices) that direct you to do more. Step back. Waaaaaaay back. In fact, do nothing. Stare into space. Don’t think of what you “need” to do, what you “should do.” If you don’t give your body and brain the space it needs, it will MAKE you give it rest. And that’s a hard fall.
Like you, I have dreams for my “homestead.” I’m sure probably most people – other homesteaders – would say: that’s not a homestead, you have a couple of big gardens in the countryside where you live. (I’m in the Finger Lakes, NY.) And yes, I’m sure that’s a valid argument. And yes, I’ve had to shift my vision / plans to more match reality than my dreams: Less of a homesteading lifestyle / experience and more of a (oh, I hope this is true) source of inspiration for people so they “take a risk” and plant their own gardens and better understand the process of growing, cooking, and eating food.
And like you, I think: I need to blog more! I need to get more material out there! (You are SO right about how time-consuming something as uploading, editing, and posting photos can be.) Then right: social media. I know the rules… you can’t just post and go, you need to visit others, build relationships, etc. THAT, although a pleasant activity, also takes time.
Of course then there is that pesky full-time job (high stress, much anxiety) that I need to pay the bills and afford this glorious “homesteading lifestyle.” 😉
Meanwhile, the stink bugs decimated my zucchini, I’m worried about the other squash, the deer are wrecking havoc in my beans and corn, and I fear that once again, the tomatoes have gotten away from me (us – my husband, too). And the whole point of this life was to grow our own food. To become more self-sufficient. To better understand HOW to provide for ourselves.
I could go on and on. (You can argue that I have in this comment – har har.)
My point: You must fill your own well first.
You don’t ever need to explain it, you just need to do it.
(I so enjoy your posts on Instagram – that’s how I found your blog. Wishing you much time to breathe and just be!)
chickenlibrarian
Oh dear Tracy…what words of wisdom you have spoken. I totally get what you are saying, and yes, we must fill our own well. At the same time I am trying to start a business to support the homestead dream…as in no FT job. Make the homestead business work or go back to work FT. With that comes the hustle. Figure it out. But at the same time I need a break. I need some down time to regroup and make sure the hustle is working. Which is what I’m doing now.
And I’ve always been of the mindset that no matter how big or small your homestead is, it’s still a homestead! I think we need to encourage each other (as you’ve done for me) and help each other out. I visited your blog a few days ago and realized I never commented! It’s definitely on my radar!
Thank you for visiting, for your sweet words of wisdom.
Melinda Copeland
Wonderful post, and I’m over here almost laughing at your words! I’ve felt the same kind of craziness lately, that feeling of never quite catching up, and even if I managed it for a split second, I could never stay there. I stepped back (from everything) for a couple of weeks, hardly poked my face into Instagram and no blog posts either. I spent the time making a plan, a plan that includes BALANCE. I’ve been giving my all to this blog and business for a couple of years now, and it’s time to chill out a little bit. Make a plan, stick to a schedule and not have to feel so flat out all the time.
So basically, this post resonated, lol. I’m stepping back in with my blog post today and popping on over to IG tomorrow. We’ll see how my plan holds up… 😉
Wishing you all the best this August. Hoping you can find and hold onto that elusive balance, too. xoxo
chickenlibrarian
The past couple of weeks have been great! I finally, finally set aside the time to take a good look around. I’m letting go of things that just aren’t working. And embracing the things that are working. I still need to put pen to paper and get a plan written out and then implement it but it’s coming. Very soon.
I love it how we are in tune with each other. At the same time saying ‘it’s time to take a step back and evaluate’. Balance is so hard. I keep saying yes because I don’t want to miss an opportunity, even when that opportunity is screaming at me that it’s not the right one for my little homesteading business. But I’ll have more about that once I’ve collected all the thoughts.
Thanks for always being so encouraging Melinda!
xoxo