When to Rest & How to Let Go of Limits
- Cindy
- Jun 6
- 3 min read
I don't know about you, but all my life, I have struggled with being a do, do, doer! The satisfaction of a hard day's work and checking action items off my list has always brought me a deep sense of accomplishment.
I don’t want to make this article solely about recognizing our limitations as we age (I'll be 59 soon)—although aging does play a part. Even when I was younger, I often felt the need to rest, yet I would dig deep and power through. Sometimes, that is absolutely necessary—but sometimes, it isn’t.
And that’s the key takeaway I hope to offer you: How to recognize when your limits are approaching before you're so spent that you can no longer function.
While I don’t know exactly how your body, mind, and soul feel, I can share the red alerts I’ve noticed in myself when I’ve overextended. My key signs include:
Difficulty concentrating
Small decisions feeling insurmountable
General irritability
Physical fatigue and reaching for that afternoon coffee
Negative self-talk, such as: What is wrong with you? You can do this. Just keep pushing through. Pull up the big girl panties and soldier on.
Being short with my loved ones (even my pets)—aka, my tone of voice
Blurred vision
Emotional outbursts and even swearing (this one my husband notices!)
Losing contact with talking to God for more than a day
Neglecting to ask God for strength or the willingness to slow down if that’s what I need
How I Respond to These Signs
The first step is to pay attention early—not wait until all of these symptoms are present. If I do, it’s often too late; I may need to make apologies, risk running myself into physical illness, or end up unable to give my best effort. And I’ve realized I am simply not willing to sacrifice my ability to offer my best to others if I can help it. No such thing as perfection here—but the best I can give? That’s worth prioritizing.
The main thing I do now is stop and ask myself: "Am I hungry, angry, lonely, or tired (HALT)?" I then reflect on what behaviors from my list I am exhibiting. If I answer “yes” to any of the HALT questions, I pause and take care of that need.
Reevaluating Priorities
My second go-to is to reevaluate my day or week, look at what needs to be done, and ask the question: "How important is it?" I then assign urgency to each task. I have to be realistic—some things just need to be let go of, OR I need to choose to ask for help.
There will always be times in life when our limits are tested, and we must press on. When that happens, my spiritual requests become essential. I pray for God to give me what I need—emotionally, physically, and spiritually—to get through the situation or day with as much patience, grace, and compassion as I can. And I’ve noticed that when I do this, He answers. He grants me the ability. Not perfectly, but sufficiently—my best.
We all have limitations. Pride can get the best of us—I’m no exception. I hope some of the tips I’ve learned over the years will help you, too.
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Grace to you,
Cindy
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