You're Not Behind

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A Soft Rebellion Against Burnout, Busyness, and the Constant Push to Do More

—By December

Welcome in. Let’s be real for a second.

If you’ve found yourself here, chances are you’re sitting somewhere between tired and ten tabs too many—maybe with a to-do list that looks more like a guilt trip. Maybe you’ve been trying to do ALL THE THINGS with a nervous system that’s already hanging by a thread. Maybe, like me, you’ve hit that quiet breaking point where even responding to a text feels like too much.

In Case You Need a Pep Talk

Look, you’re not falling behind—you’re just a human being trying to juggle a full-time job (the one that pays the bills), a passion project, a creative spark, or two, or a side hustle (the one that feeds the soul), and the everyday circus of being alive in a world that won’t stop demanding more. And you’re doing all that with the same nervous system you’ve had since high school. No wonder you're tired.

You’re not broken because you’re drained. You’re not lazy because the thought of “maximizing your mornings” makes you want to throw your planner across the room. You’re not disorganized just because your brain is holding too many tabs open and you forgot what day it was. Again.

Truth? You’re maxed out. And you’re still showing up—with your heart, your curiosity, and whatever energy you’ve got left after handling emails, emotions, and all while keeping the house pristine (in case of surprise visits). That’s not failure. That’s resilience.

Not long ago, I slammed headfirst into that familiar wall—the one where even the thing that feeds my soul started to feel like an obligation. And not because I believed rest had to be earned (that myth and I broke up a while ago), but because urgency had sneakily climbed into the driver’s seat and floored it. Suddenly, everything felt like it had to be done right now or the world might implode. I caught myself thinking, “Maybe I just need a better routine… or a third coffee… or a personality transplant?” But honestly? What I really needed was a long exhale. A soft internal reset. A gentle nudge that not everything is a five-alarm fire—and that doing enough doesn’t require doing everything at once.

So if today feels heavy, I get it. If you're waiting for a sign that it’s okay to soften your expectations and let yourself exhale—this is it. You're not behind. You’re on your own timeline. And that timeline doesn’t need to impress anyone—it just needs to be kind to you.

So pour the coffee, ignore the noise, and write yourself a permission slip to rest, recalibrate, or do absolutely nothing for a minute. Trust me: soft is still strong.

The Myth of “Catching Up”

There’s a reason rest feels so hard to claim. It’s not just the glorified hustle culture shouting at you to glow up, stay grateful, answer emails like a machine, and somehow drink eight glasses of water without spilling your sanity. It’s that gnawing sense of urgency whispering that if you stop now, everything might fall apart. For some of us, it’s not about earning rest—it’s about believing the world won’t crumble if we take it. The to-do list is never fully done, the inbox never empty, and that “I’ll rest when…” moment? It keeps moving the finish line. But here’s the quiet rebellion: Rest isn’t a reward. It’s a reset. And you don’t have to justify it.

So I’m offering you this soft rebellion:
Let’s do less. But more intentionally.
Let’s stop measuring our worth in checkmarks and energy spent.
Let’s give ourselves the gift of a slower rhythm—one that doesn’t require us to earn our rest or explain our need to unplug.

You Get to Set the Pace.

Your side hustle? It’s still valid, even if you’ve barely touched it this week.
Your job? Yes, it’s important—but it doesn’t get to devour all of you.
And your life? It gets to have space for joy, even when you’re behind on laundry and forgetting birthdays.

Here’s your permission slip: You’re allowed to want more without doing more right now. You’re allowed to crave quiet. You’re allowed to set the bar lower—not because you’re failing, but because you’re finally honoring your limits.

A Rhythm, Not a Regimen

So what do we do with this moment of soft clarity?

We land. 

Gently. 

With no hustle anthem in the background and no shame for needing a pause.

Whether you’re reading this in your bathrobe, at your desk, or while hiding in the bathroom for a moment of peace (no judgment), let this be your reminder that you’re not behind. You’re simply carrying more than anyone can see—and you deserve a rhythm that carries you too.

Want a Tool That Meets You Where You Are?

If you want to give your week a little structure without pressure, I’ve tucked a cozy little method into a digital goody just for you. It’s called The Soft Rhythm Method Companion—think of it as a kindness-based alternative to traditional planners that think your soul is a productivity report.

No pressure. Just a page, a pause, and a rhythm that fits your real life.

You can grab it by clicking here, if you want -> The Soft Rhythm Method Companion

Or just keep this post bookmarked for when you need to feel less alone in the swirl.

Closing the Loop (No, Not the Productivity Kind)

Either way, I’m glad you’re here.
You’re not behind. You’re just human.
And that, my friend, is exactly enough.

~December xo

(from the Couch, fuzzy socks included)