Climbing an Intensive Week

What was the highest or lowest point of your week? How did this affect you and what learning can you get out of it? This is my first journal prompt from a list of four to help me get back into writing. Ang hirap pala ng first prompt ko.

Hmm I don’t think I had a high or low point last week. Last week was steady… steady tough! Overall, working from home and the work at home was tiring—physically and mentally draining. I think it was only Wednesday when I felt I was already “fighting through the week,” looking forward to the weekend.

At work, it was week two of a three-week intensive output for our team. This, despite already pushing things back and rearranging timelines. The good thing is that I knew this was coming and so I was able to anticipate the time and energy the week was going to use up. But even so, I found myself “fighting through the week,” as I’ve said. So how to manage these kinds of weeks?

Well, imagine you’re climbing up a mountain and your goal is to reach the top.

Stick to the priorities. Don’t add to the weight by taking with you things you don’t have to bring right now. Don’t pick up things along the way too. Don’t overpromise, and push back what you can so you can allocate time and energy on the priorities. If the priorities are not clear, clarify them.
Show up. Just show up for the day, and give it all you can give for that day. Drag yourself if you have to, but show up.
Take one solid step at a time. If you know when you should reach the top, you can spread out the distance over the days you’re given. Map it out, then take it one day at a time, then take it one step at a time. Try to focus on one item at a time, giving it depth of thought and thoroughness, rather than simply trying to achieve as many things as you can.
Limit detours. Most likely there will be unexpected things that can detour you from your route. Limit these to the necessary ones. Limit distractions by only checking emails or messages a few times during the day, and restrain yourself from the urge to instantly reply to everyone and everything. Time away from what you should focus on means it will take you longer to get to where you need to go.
Take short breathers. During the day, schedule and take enough short breaks to recharge and refresh you.
Reward yourself. Plan out what you want to get for yourself in the middle of the week and after the week-long stretch. It helps to look forward to a simple treat, beyond the sense of accomplishment.
Remember that you’re not alone. It’s okay to share with someone climbing up the intensive week with you that you’re already feeling tired or fighting through. Encourage one another. At the very least, you’ll be encouraged it’s not just you who’s feeling that way. At work, this is usually a trusted, mature peer, or your supervisor.
Remember your WHY. Why are you there anyway? Who told you to be where you are? At the end of the day, if you know that it’s God who put you where you are—even if that’s the only reason to show up—He will surely give you the strength and wisdom you need to climb that mountain and reach the top!