Don't get me wrong, I do enjoy contributing my monthly writings to Christian Today, but the last few weeks building up to Christmas have been so busy.
And as I have told almost anyone who will listen, I have been busy preparing for my inaugural open ocean swim series. It involves showing up for swim practice twice a week, which isn't a lot when you think about it—it totals only two hours of pool time a week.
But I often go home after practice feeling so, so tired. Then there are a variety of life administrations to do: household chores, Netflix TV series to catch up on, books to read and chat messages from overseas friends to reply to.
With Christmas being only a few sleeps away, I have also spent quite a lot of time browsing online stores and wandering along supermarket aisles, scratching my head for suitable presents to buy friends.
Sometimes, I feel like shouting, "Stop! I can't handle this anymore!"
Just between you and me, my idea of a fabulous Christmas has nothing to do with exchanging presents and gorging on food anyway. (I get given a lot of two-in-one presents because my birthday is four days before Christmas.) It's being able to hole myself up indoors, turn on a DVD and stuff my face with chocolate.
It's good to be busy
But despite my grumblings of how busy I am and how I wish life would slow down just a tad bit, I'm actually really grateful for my busy schedule.
I know that sounds a little odd. Between the options of an island holiday or rushing through life trying to meet various deadlines, I think I know which one I'd rather choose (island holiday).
However, I have to remind myself the reason my alarm goes off at 6am every morning, and the reason I get to press snooze six times, is because I've a job to go to. This in return means I've a monthly income to look forward to.
My tiring, but often rewarding swim sessions, mean I'm healthy enough to show up for practices. As for the exhaustion that lasts for days. Well, it's a good sign I'm alive and breathing.
Trawling online stores and supermarket aisles for hours on end can be painful, but it means I've friends to buy presents.
The reason I receive my Young Writers' emails is because I am fortunate enough to be able to belong to a group of young writers who are enthusiastic about their columns.
So whenever I feel like shutting myself inside a black hole to only emerge when I feel like it, I remind myself it is good to be busy.
Imagine what a horrible existence we'd have if our life was an endless island holiday filled with no aim and no purpose.
But do take a break
Having said all of that, it's good to take some time out for ourselves, to rejuvenate and refresh our overworked and weary bodies.
Even God rested on the seventh day of creation.
So even though we are busy preparing for Christmas, with endless invites to accept and never-ending lists of presents to buy, let's not forget to also make time for ourselves.
Michele Ong is a former regional news journalist with a passion to be a voice for the marginalised and disenfranchised. Writing is as essential to her as breathing and she believes words contain life which is to be used to inspire, inform, and influence readers. Michele attends Auckland's City Impact Church with her family on the North Shore.
Michele's previous articles may be viewed at http://www.pressserviceinternational.org/michele-ong.html