Your topic begs the question, “Is all help good help?” In order to take our responsibilities seriously but not to the point of burnout, it’s important to know your physical limits – we all have them.

Reading my son’s school newsletter recently, I came across the section on virtues. Responsibility was being featured. It was about being dependable, keeping agreements and giving your best. If after you’ve committed to helping you feel pressure and overextended, then regardless of your best intentions, you cannot possibly give your best. 

Tips on how to help without hitting the wall:

- Make discernment your new best friend. 

- Before you take a new task to task, pause before you reply. There is no harm in saying, “I’ll think it over” before you commit.

- Redefine the to-do list and release the pressure valve by keeping it lighthearted. 

Marianne Williamson’s “Personal Power” card comes as a reminder that, “Achievement doesn’t come from what we do, but from who we are. Our worldly power results from our personal power.”

While writing this, my five-year-old son handed me a book from our shelf titled, Meditations for Women Who Do Too Much. He did not know I was in the process of seeking a quote for my next column…not to mention he’s still learning to read!

While this little book is full of wisdom and advice, I couldn’t go past the introduction to emphasise my point. Thanks to my son’s intuition I felt it was as much for me, as it is for you. “There are many of us who do too much, keep too busy, spend all our time taking care of others and, in general, do not take care of ourselves. This is a book for women workaholics, busyaholics, rushaholics, and careaholics.”

Obviously it’s in your nature to want to help, which is a wonderful trait, but you will be better placed to meet (and greet) your responsibilities if you can prioritise and set boundaries.

Send your questions for Sharon to editor@areanews.com.au