Expectation overload

I love waiting for a good thing. Maybe it is a sick trait of personal trainers, but I really do find amazing satisfaction out of watching the steady progress of physical change in others while patiently waiting for all the hard work to pay off. Perhaps this is what has always made me love running so much. In fact I get down right giddy about waiting to open a gift. Although, I have to admit, these days my ability to wait has waned. The expectation of what is to come is overwhelming at times. It doesn't really matter if we expect it to be a good thing or not, if what we expect doesn't actually happen, we are inevitably disappointed.

What are you expecting out of life that has left your overwhelmed or disappointed? The women I work with have a mile high list of expectations for themselves everyday...and they wonder why they always feel like they never measure up. It is even harder for high achievers or people pleasers to keep our expectations in check. We want it to have it all, give it all, and be it all...all the time. This just isn't realistic.

Here are some ideas to keep your daily, monthly, and life expectations in check:

1. Make a vision board: Take a half day (trust me, the time is worth it) and gather lots of magazines, clippings, drawings, or whatever reflects your life passions and put together a single page map of what is most important to you. If over the nest 2-5 years you could have all that you think would make you happy and successful, what would it be?
2. Plan out your days in time blocks. Not only should you put in your regular daily appointments for you, your kids, your mate, and your pets, but you should enter things in like, pay bills, grocery shopping. Anything that regularly takes time.
3. If possible, check in with your to do list as it reflects on your time blocks above. Do everything you can to delegate or get rid of tasks that either someone else can do (or be paid to do) or just decide to scrap them. This works well for things like book-keeping, cleaning, or dog walking.
4. Make a conscious decision to let go of your expectations and be gentle with yourself. If life is coming at you way too fast, and you are getting altogether too down and out about what you are doing or being...stop, take a deep breath, and let go. Ask yourself this question: In 5 years from now, will I be stressed out for not having done or accomplished whatever it is I am freaking out about now? If the answer is anywhere near no, then, please, let it go and relax. You are superwoman just as you are. Really.