Bullfrogs don't sleep

By Kerryn Vaughan

5th January 2022

Well, here we are after wishing farewell to 2021. It really was a year of keeping us up at night. Many people left their jobs as they realised the 9-5 wasn’t feeding their soul, yet still so many are procrastinating and pondering ‘What is it I really want to do?’. 

The truth is, we all intuitively know that answer, but our good old mate ‘self-doubt’ sits comfortably on our shoulder relentlessly whispering safety’s in our ear.

So what’s that thing that badgers the hell out of you and keeps you up at night?

That thing that asks you ‘What if…?’ ‘How can I…?’ Why can’t I…?’

My ‘keep me up at night’ is: 

‘What causes people to stay stagnant and not back themselves?’ 

‘Why do they feel like they don’t deserve to live a life of their own design?’

And then there’s the questioning of my own messaging:

‘What am I not saying, or how can I say it better?’ - in my obsession to get people to see that the often seemingly impossible is actually possible. 

I hit the pillow hard at night and I’m very quickly off with the fairies, but once Tinkerbell calls in the early hours of the morning for some bladder relief, that’s it!! My mind is like a very well stoked steam train!

Bullfrogs biologically don’t need sleep, apparently. Whoever figured that out must have had a grand old time relaxing by the lily pond!

But sleep for humans is so important! So many people have told me lately how exhausted they are, even after the break. I think some of this exhaustion is the dregs of 2021, but also the energy it takes to just prepare yourself to go back to work you don’t love. That feeling of having no choice.

We all do have a choice, but when the mortgage and ever increasing living expenses are crushing down upon us, we don’t feel like we do.

This year I’ve made the choice to spend way more time with those I love, and accept that I can’t be ‘on’ 24/7. I too have been working from home and have often fallen for the trap of not having the discipline to differentiate the office from the rest of the house.

Ducking in to send that one last email, just checking messages, typing the suddenly thought of whiz bang statement for the upcoming book or future blog, or just ‘quickly’ uploading that Youtube video. But I don’t want that this year.

I want doggy dates, and partner dates, and to see my family, and to walk along the river, and relax in the hammock, and pat the donkeys.

I’m focusing on the word ‘energy’, and trying to be more mindful about where I put my energy.

Life’s too short!

So back to you…

What keeps you up at night?

Where are you going to put your energy in 2022?

Happy New Year!

Kerryn Vaughan is the author of ‘Magnificent Kids!’ and ‘Get Off The Bench!’, founder of One Planet Classrooms, co-founder of Girls With Hammers, and host of Get Off The Bench Podcast.

Kerryn is also a DISC ADVANCED® accredited consultant.