I feel like cinderella

To clarify, I feel like Cinderella before the ball. You know - when she is dressed in rags and working her fingers to the bone.

I’m not sure what version of Cinderella I had watched or read, but the idea was that if she finished all her work, she could go to the ball. That, of course, was next to impossible thanks to the concerted efforts of her step family.

I bet when she finally did finish her tasks, she was almost too mentally and physically exhausted to even attend the ball. I know I’d be (but I suppose she was a good 20 years younger than I - oh, to be young again!)

On days that I work from home - either baking, writing, or homemaking - you’ll not find me in rags per se, but you will find me in my stretchy pants, oversized t-shirt, and non-glass slippers (they are Minnetonkas, in fact).

My non-glass slippers.

And talk about working my fingers to the bone! This week was hard from a work standpoint. I just had a lot of tasks and all the mental and emotional stress that comes with it!

In addition to my 9-5 and “usual” evenings with dinner, family, and homework, we also hosted my sister and her family overnight midweek. Then it was off to baking Thursday, running to the store because (naturally) my prior grocer was out of an item, experiencing a near-cake fail (stress upon stress!), and then spending way too long decorating a cake that was due early the next morning. I spent so much time on it I had to skip out on an evening activity with my friends!

And don’t get me STARTED on all the dishes! (Did you know that baking is 98% washing dishes?!)

My baking pans, drying in the oven.

Needless to say, by the time Thursday night rolled around I was exhausted. I barely finished a chapter in my current read before nodding off into a peaceful slumber - only to wake up at 5 a.m. the next morning to start it all over. (This time, with a better attitude and less stress!).

But this week made me seriously question - is the “work first, then play” mindset that I grew up with still a good one? I’m too often unwilling to take a break until all my work is done, but I think that is an unhealthy work pattern.

And for any responsible adult, that “work first” is still a good model - but sometimes play is necessary during those long, stressful work days. The trick is actually taking planned breaks during the workday.

Cinderella didn’t have a choice - finish the job, or no ball for you. (And for the record, dancing at a ball sounds absolutely terrifying.) But unless my fairy godmother miraculously materializes to do my work for me, looks like the only ball I’ll be attending is the one I plan for myself. I’ll try to do better. Maybe.

What about you? Do you plan out your leisure or are you like Cinderella - furiously working away at her tasks to hopefully maybe someday attend the ball?

Let me know in the comments!