It may sound strange, but living on a boat isn’t the endless holiday it appears to be in the beautiful pictures. The reality is far more demanding as it requires constant flexibility and moments of real rest can be rare. Since we have been spending more time with other families living aboard, I have met several parents and I have noticed something: it is often the mothers who struggle most to keep their energy levels steady. Fatigue is common and in some cases even burnout lurks around the corner.

Speaking for myself, I am being challenged more than ever. I thrive in social settings, I love change and I am a planner, maybe even a bit of a control freak. On board this means I work every morning, about 10 to 15 hours a week, prepare and guide homeschooling, keep the household running, monitor the weather and wind closely, plan routes and handle most communication, both online and offline, with love and care. Oh, I almost forgot, I steer 90% of the time, including the manouvring. Rest does not come easy.

These past weeks we have had friends & family aboard, after we just finished an exhausting renovation and had to cover some distance to make it to the Athens area on time. On top of that, it can be hard to truly relax when surrounded by charter boats that often manoeuvre clumsily, as we experienced yesterday when one caused some real damage to our boat.

In the past I have had to face my own limits when it comes to energy, even to the point of burnout. I have done a lot of work to change that, to protect myself and to understand the patterns that lead me there. Still, it remains an ongoing challenge. The good thing is that I have learned what I need, and I am now discovering even deeper layers of myself, realising that rest is more vital than I ever thought.

In moments of stillness, I find space to come home to myself. When that stillness is missing, whether because of my surroundings or a restless mind, energy depletion is never far away. That is where I am right now, aware that my cup is overflowing but also determined to do things differently. To apply what I already know, to give myself a gentle push through a new programme and to explore what else I need to stay grounded.

Why is it still so hard to stand up for myself and take proper care of me? I know exactly what I should do, yet the systems are not fully in place. But that is ok. I am taking steps, one at a time, learning again… Still in an environment that should be able to bring rest and peacefulness too, on the water I love so much!

Are you challenged sometimes?

Written by: Mirjam