How to Keep Things Fun & Exciting When You’re Overworked

April 11, 2016

Olivia Palermo Chelsea28 mikialamode style blogI wish I could tell you that I am a creature of great habits, but I haven’t had a normal schedule for some time now. In high school, my friend described me as the girl with two hands who juggles 10 things at once. I was really unaware of how much I liked to keep my weeks completely rammed, with little down time. If I wanted to do something, I always just did it, not thinking of the consequences (ie. exhaustion and lack of sleep), even doing things alone when no one was going to join along for the ride. Working out every morning before work, spending 70 hours a week at a job, going out 3-5 nights a week to events or seeing different friends eventually started to take its toll. I never thought it was easy for anyone to become great at anything or cross everything off on their bucket list. Afterall, anything worth having in life never comes easy, but that doesn’t mean the ride to your destination needs to be boring or miserable. 
I enjoy work, the extra things I do and being overworked is something I know too well. After years of attending different events on a regular basis, I actually found myself needing to introduce new things almost every week to stay entertained and stimulated because I had become accustomed to changing environments with the way I was living. When life got too busy though, it became difficult to continue this lifestyle that I loved. I thought I would share my own tips on keeping things fun, fresh and exciting when you feel like you have no time and are feeling overworked. We work hard and deserve to enjoy life’s pleasures. If I could help prevent you from burning out, I’d like to share that with you here.

Street Style Olivia Palermo Chelsea28 West Hollywoodstyle blog mango lace up shoesOlivia Palermo Chelsea28 street style in West HollywoodHow to Keep Things Fresh & Exciting When You Are Feeling Overworked

1) Always Take Breaks.
It seems intuitive and everyone knows this, but I will tell you that I didn’t always do it, or make the most of it.  When I’m working on something, whether that be a project for work, writing for the blog, planning the next trip, putting together the house or editing content and pictures, I find it incredibly difficult to stop and take a break. I always want to complete the task as soon as possible (and I have this feeling you might feel the same!) When I don’t take those breaks, I feel exhausted and burn out by the end of the day.
We have to remember that it’s okay to step away for small breaks and come back refreshed. Your body gets tense and your mind needs to be recharged. If you don’t, it can really take a toll on your body. Add stress to the mix and you start to feel like you’re physically sore and mentally stuck to one task for too long. Get up, stretch, go for a walk, grab a tea, dessert or coffee and return with fresh thoughts and new perspective. If you can make it fun, by bringing in some new snacks you want to try every time, introducing random quirky 5 minute games/activities, or make your entire team work towards something like a 5 minute plank as I had forced my prior colleagues (sorry, not sorry old friends!), then it’s a great bonding experience a good reason to chat and always an entertaining experience.  Plus, you might be surprised to find yourself working better and faster each time you return to work.

Street Style Olivia Palermo Chelsea28 fashion blog mikialamode2) Make Your Breaks & Time Off Count
When I was working 70 hours a week, I knew I needed to put aside time to continue doing the other things I enjoyed just so I’d feel like I still had a social life outside of my career! With much needed beauty sleep, this really didn’t leave much time to do activities, which meant I really had to make what little spare time I had count. I love checking out new restaurants, going to galas, fashion events, launch parties and flying to new destinations, so I made sure to select activities that would incorporate as many of these as possible. To keep things interesting and fun, I never chose to do the same kind of activity over and over again. This made me feel happy, refreshed and grounded.
If you are taking a break from work, going out for lunch or taking a day off, make it count. Do something you love, but put a fresh spin on it. If you workout, try inviting a friend so that you’re socializing and challenging each other. If you blog and know of other bloggers, meet at a new coffee shop and do it together so you can enjoy your breaks & socialize together. If you like to travel, reward your hard work with a day trip in an area you haven’t explored nearby. If you love music, check out local live bands, concerts or special appearances in your area. Just select things that require little planning on your part, so you can remember to unwind and enjoy!

Olivia Palermo Chelsea28 mikialamode west hollywoodTom and I try to have some level of predictability when we’re busy, but it’s really always changing. Lucky for me he is always open to trying new things! (Just one of the many reasons why I knew he was perfect for me.) We often try to select a new spot or enjoy an entirely new experience every week.  Now that we’ve moved, we’re always discovering new places, but we’ve really made it a point to treat the city like we’re tourists all of the time.  Last weekend, he made reservations to Cecconi’s West Hollywood which had been on our list for quite some time. I got to try a restaurant I’ve been meaning to check out, spend the day with my best friend and do something for my blog all at once, a triple-win situation. The experience at Cecconi’s West Hollywood was really nice. The staff was attentive and the manager even came to see how we enjoyed the night. When you have a night out with good food and exceptional service, it makes the new experience even better, am I right?

Olivia Palermo Chelsea28 dress mikialamodeCecconis West Hollywood SeatingOlivia Palermo Chelsea28 CecconisCecconi West HollywoodCecconis WeHo SeatingCecconi's West HollywoodCecconi PatioCecconi West Hollywood Menu3) When You’re Done, Turn It Off
If you take a break or when you finish work, turn it ‘off’. I don’t mean physically. I mean mentally. I know it’s hard and I even still have to constantly remind myself to do this. When you’re with friends, loved ones or even on your own, you need to turn that ‘on’ switch in your head ‘off’ so that your time off is truly time for you to enjoy, otherwise you’ll be scribbling down notes all of the time and can’t be in the moment you’re in. This works for me when I’m working out, planning a trip or funny enough, when I’m doing my nails. Yours might be completely different, but if you don’t know it yet, I highly recommend finding something that lets you turn it ‘off’. Whether those activities are related to fashion, food, music, travel or sports, you can mix things up, visit new spots, experience new, as though you were a new to the city.

Olivia Palermo Chelsea28 mikialamodeEasy Summer Braided HairChelsea28 by Olivia PalermoI ended up multitasking this weekend, but had a great night. Can you tell?

Chelsea28 by Olivia Palermo style lifestyle blog

There you have it!  Those 3 things above are what keeps me going and help me feel more connected to the lifestyle I desire without burning out. I hope you enjoyed this post. If you did, please comment below. If you have your own tips, I’d love to hear as well!

You can also follow me on Bloglovin♥, find me on Twitter or Instagram.

Xo,

Miki

Outfit: Dress by Olivia Palermo’s Chelsea28 available here.  Shoes by Mango, similar for under $50 by Asos here. Faye Bag by Chloè available here. Earring from part of a my earring crawler set by Olivia Palermo X BaubleBar here.

Photo credit to my one and only, Rise Again BJJ

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  • Emilia Isa April 11, 2016 at 9:30 am

    Hey!
    Interesant article. I love your dress, you’re very beautiful with it! 🙂

    http://emiliaisa.blogspot.fr

    • miki April 18, 2016 at 5:25 pm

      Thanks so much! 🙂
      Xo,
      Miki

  • Mai April 11, 2016 at 11:54 pm

    Lovely post Hun! Thanks for sharing this with everyone!
    I’ve just updated a new post on my blog: THERMAL & GEL NAIL POLISH REVIEW!

    OHIAMIHT BLOG | BORN PRETTY STORE USE CODE OHIX31 FOR 10% OFF

    Kisses,
    Mai

    • miki April 18, 2016 at 5:24 pm

      Thanks!
      Xo,
      Miki

  • Marie April 12, 2016 at 3:21 am

    I am totally in love with this look ! I love your shoes, your dress and your Chloé bag. 🙂
    Hope you will have a nice day.
    Kisses
    Marie

    http://www.whatiwearinlondon.com

    • miki April 18, 2016 at 5:29 pm

      Thanks Marie!! 🙂
      Xo,
      Miki

  • Falasha April 12, 2016 at 5:13 am

    You look gorgeous, love this outfit! And I certainly agree it is so important to take breaks and it also helps me to remind myself what my goals are and why I am working so hard…
    xx Falasha
    Bite My Fashion ll Instagram ll Bloglovin’

    • miki April 18, 2016 at 5:30 pm

      Thanks so much Falasha. I’m so glad you relate & enjoyed the read! 🙂
      Xo,
      Miki

  • Priyanka April 12, 2016 at 9:00 am

    Such a lovely post! it took me to places 🙂 love the outfit too
    xo
    Priyanka

    • miki April 18, 2016 at 11:36 pm

      Thanks Priyanka! 🙂 You’re very sweet.
      Xo,
      Miki

  • yuka April 12, 2016 at 9:13 am

    your dress is so pretty! love the print!

    http://www.prettyinleather.net

    • miki April 18, 2016 at 11:37 pm

      Thanks so much Yuka! 🙂
      Xo,
      Miki

  • Kat April 12, 2016 at 9:47 am

    I just discovered your blog and its just amazing!
    Your pictures and your looks are so on point 🙂

    xx
    Kat

    http://www.teastoriesblog.com

    • miki April 18, 2016 at 11:38 pm

      Thanks so much Kat. 🙂 I really appreciate your sweet comment! 🙂
      Xo,
      Miki

  • swati April 12, 2016 at 11:33 am

    brilliant post……the dress looks so comfortable and the food looks so yummy….

    http://www.crazyaboutcolors.com

    • miki April 18, 2016 at 11:45 pm

      Thanks so much Swati! 🙂 The dress was definitely comfortable & worthy of travelling with. I will have to go back to Cecconi’s again soon. 🙂
      Xo,
      Miki

  • Anna April 13, 2016 at 2:08 am

    Good advice and nice pictures 🙂

    Anna,

    http://www.annakatina.com

    • miki April 18, 2016 at 11:47 pm

      Thanks so much Anna! 🙂
      Xo,
      Miki

  • Laura April 13, 2016 at 7:44 am

    I totally relate to your blog post!
    It’s a great reminder that I should take breaks and that I also need to stop focusing on work when I’m in my leisure time. 😉
    Thanks for sharing these tips!

    Laura
    http://furiouslychic.blogspot.ch/

    • miki April 18, 2016 at 11:50 pm

      So glad that it relates to you, too! Thanks for the lovely comment. 🙂
      Xo,
      Miki

  • Konstantina Antoniadou April 13, 2016 at 8:07 am

    that dress is dreamy!
    http://www.kmeetsstyle.com

    • miki April 18, 2016 at 5:20 pm

      Thanks! It is, isn’t it? Very cozy, too.
      Xo,
      Miki

  • Melisa April 13, 2016 at 8:18 am

    lovely tips dear! and your outfit is just flawless<3
    http://www.rebelrebel.co x

    • miki April 18, 2016 at 5:18 pm

      Thanks so much Melisa! That’s so sweet of you. 🙂
      Xo,
      Miki

  • Diana April 13, 2016 at 1:32 pm

    you look gorgeous!

    http://www.queenhorsfall.com/

    • miki April 18, 2016 at 5:18 pm

      Thanks Diana! 🙂 You’re always so sweet.
      Xo,
      Miki

  • Noma April 14, 2016 at 2:36 am

    Great advice. We really have to learn to turn work off “mentally” as you say, which can be hard when everyone has their phone with them 24/7.

    XoXo Noma

    • miki April 18, 2016 at 5:16 pm

      I agree. It’s really hard to turn it off especially when your job can be around the clock, but definitely liberating. 🙂 Thanks for visiting!
      Xo,
      Miki

  • Dominique April 14, 2016 at 3:29 am

    This is great post, full of good tips! I love Cecconis in Weho, their food is yummy. The breakfast is amazing too! xx

    http://www.thatnewdress.com

    • miki April 18, 2016 at 5:13 pm

      It’s definitely a great spot. Slowly, but surely discovering more nice spots. There’s so many on the list to hit! Thanks for visiting.
      Xo,
      Miki

  • Blue Adriatic April 14, 2016 at 7:57 am

    You look so glamurous with the dress and flats. Wonderful interior of the restaurant.
    Great tips!
    Dilvy

    • miki April 18, 2016 at 5:12 pm

      Thanks! It felt like a glam day. 🙂
      Xo,
      Miki

  • Mica de Leon April 14, 2016 at 7:33 pm

    Nice, were actually the same with juggling things at the same time. Love the tips.. and your shoes!
    – There’s More to Mica // http://www.micadeleon.com

    • miki April 18, 2016 at 5:09 pm

      Thanks!
      Xo,
      Miki

  • Mel Carr April 15, 2016 at 10:41 pm

    Dying for a Chloè bag! 😉 Love how you paired it.

    http://inwisti.com/

    • miki April 18, 2016 at 4:46 pm

      Thanks so much! Yeah, it took me awhile to take the plunge, but it’s a fantastic bag that goes so well with everything. Let me know if you get one! 🙂
      Xo,
      Miki

  • Chris April 16, 2016 at 6:43 am

    I love how you mix fashion and fun and practical advice. It took me years to really understand how important it is to work at balancing hard work with intentional time to relax and have fun. I think it is so important to focus on the moment as well and just breathe.

    • miki April 18, 2016 at 4:39 pm

      Thanks so much! I’m so glad that you enjoy the content & that it relates to you. It’s really important to balance your life, even if it’s already full of work!
      Xo,
      Miki

  • maray April 16, 2016 at 9:41 am

    Beautiful look! ♡ Kisses!!

    http://www.alasdeangel.net

    • miki April 18, 2016 at 4:40 pm

      Thanks Maray!
      Xo,
      Miki

  • amely rose April 16, 2016 at 12:31 pm

    Thanks so much for the comment on my latest post
    it means so much to be and Iwanted to say THANK YOU in a more personal way.
    you are amazing.

    with love your AMELY ROSE

    • miki April 18, 2016 at 4:37 pm

      Thanks Amely. That’s so kind & I appreciate it coming form someone as beautiful as you.
      Xo,
      Miki

  • Amy Arnold April 28, 2016 at 6:31 am

    I am definitely a person who needs some down time. Great tips! I love the print and slit detail on this dress with your awesome bag and sandals.

    Amy Ann
    Straight A Style

    • miki April 28, 2016 at 6:38 pm

      Thanks Amy! Always challenging to make time for yourself, but definitely should!
      Xo,
      Miki