Stop Pushing So Hard – Make Life More Liveable Tips for a More Balanced Life
- Meryem Alay
- Feb 10
- 5 min read

I’ve been working on time management and routine-building for years. Thanks to the systems I’ve developed, I’m in one of the most productive and well-balanced phases of my life – and I’m genuinely happy with it.
But sometimes… Like everyone else, I occasionally feel trapped in an endless cycle. Days blur into each other, and everything starts to feel repetitive.
Wake up early, follow your morning routine, don’t skip your workout, get the kids ready, have breakfast, dive straight into work… What’s on today’s list?
Constantly creating, constantly progressing, constantly chasing deadlines… Yes, producing is my life’s purpose, but at the end of the day, I’m only human. And sometimes, I just feel exhausted.
The other day, a client told me, “I feel like I’m spending my entire life in front of a computer.” I laughed and replied, “Aren’t we all?” He was right. Most of our lives are spent at a screen.
I know this feeling is completely human. I’ve been through it countless times. It’s part of life’s rhythm, and, in a way, it exists to teach us something.
The key is to not get lost in this infinite game – but instead, to make it more liveable.
If I’ve painted a gloomy picture, I apologise. But don’t worry – I have my own ways of dealing with this, and I’m here to share my personal formula for staying afloat.
Stop Pushing – Make Life More Liveable!
1. No work is sustainable unless you enjoy it
Stick this on your wall, make it your phone wallpaper – because this is the most important rule on this list!
If I don’t enjoy what I’m doing, I can’t sustain it in the long run. In fact, sometimes, the job gives up on me before I even quit.
For years, I struggled to stick to a workout routine. I forced myself, tried to be disciplined, but nothing worked – until I found a form of exercise I genuinely enjoyed. That changed everything.
And this isn’t just about fitness – it applies to all areas of life.
Take your career, for example. Many people struggle in their professional lives simply because they don’t like what they do. Sometimes, you dislike the job itself. Other times, it’s the team or the company culture. But here’s the hard truth: if starting work every day feels like a burden, then life is simply too short for that.
So, whatever you do, find something that excites you. Because if you don’t enjoy it, you won’t be able to sustain it.
2. Don’t wait for perfection
I can’t think of anything more exhausting than the pursuit of perfection. I used to be obsessed with everything being flawless. But back then, I didn’t realise that perfection is just a concept – and often, an illusion.
Society imposes a definition of perfection upon us, but ironically, that definition isn’t even ours. When we chase an unattainable ideal, we spend our lives feeling inadequate.
And in this never-ending game, we drain ourselves. Because perfection isn’t a final destination – it’s a mirage.
If you often feel exhausted and overwhelmed, take a moment to question what you’re chasing. Are you pursuing something real, or just an illusion?
Let your workout be a bit inconsistent. Let some tasks slip through the cracks. Order takeaway this week instead of cooking every meal. Allow things to flow. The world won’t stop spinning just because you don’t do everything perfectly. And you’ll soon realise that you are already enough.
3. Before taking a break, try easing off
No matter how perfect your routine is, you’ll sometimes get bored or worn out. That’s perfectly normal. And yes, taking a break is sometimes necessary.
But here’s the tricky part: breaks can be dangerous. Especially when you’re building new habits, even short breaks can derail you. Sometimes, what starts as a brief pause turns into total disengagement.
That’s why I’m always cautious about taking breaks. If I’m not completely burnt out, I try easing off first.
If I usually work out 5 days a week, I reduce it to 3–4 for a while.
If I create content daily, I slow things down for a few days.
If cooking feels overwhelming, I let myself order in without guilt.
Instead of completely stopping, lowering the intensity can help you rest without losing momentum.
4. Life isn’t a competition
If you approach everything as a race to win or lose, life will feel unbearable. If you constantly chase an endpoint, I have bad news – there is no endpoint.
Life isn’t a race. Not everything has to be completed on time.
Let some tasks run late.
Let some days be unproductive.
Allow yourself to just be.
Don’t succumb to the pressure of employers, society, or your own expectations. Nothing is the end of the world. Some deadlines will be missed. Some projects will be delayed. Some goals will take longer than planned. But none of these things are more important than you.
5. Make time for fun – every single day
If you don’t have fun, the day doesn’t count! Every single day, you must carve out time for your own joy.
This is one of the best routines I’ve ever established. Once the clock hits 8 PM, I switch off. I focus on what I love, and those few hours keep me alive.
What about you?
Are you doing this regularly?
Do you set aside time for yourself every day?
If the answer is no, it’s time to reconsider. Because without fun, life turns into nothing more than a to-do list.
And it’s not just about personal time!
🔹 Go out and socialise.
🔹 Engage in creative activities.
🔹 Meet up with friends.
Without these, it’s easy to feel lost. Don’t treat fun as a luxury – treat it as a necessity.
6. Stop Pushing So Hard, Make Life More Liveable – sometimes, you just need to pause
Remember that pausing is also part of moving forward. If you’re truly exhausted, that’s a signal. If you feel like you can’t push any further, the best thing you can do is step back.
And ideally, you should take that break before you’re completely burnt out.
Sometimes, that means taking a holiday. Other times, it means a few days off at home. And sometimes, it means simply doing nothing.
Because pushing through exhaustion only leads to burnout.
What makes life meaningful?
We spend our days trying to build order in the chaos. But is that really possible?
We create routines, set goals, and push forward with discipline. But sometimes, we need to step back and realise:
We can break free from those cycles, too.
Sometimes, we need to ease off. Sometimes, we need to let go. And sometimes, we just need to go with the flow.
Because what makes life meaningful isn’t just structure – it’s also allowing space for spontaneity.
So stop forcing things. Don’t keep going just for the sake of it. Sometimes, you really do need to pause.
Because life isn’t just about productivity, efficiency, and success. It’s also about feeling, enjoying, and truly living.
Comments