One of the phrases I find myself repeating to myself at least a few times a week is, “suck it up.” My dad used to say it all the time, in a loving way. Maybe “suck it up” comes across as a little aggressive, perhaps “pull it together” is a bit nicer. I kind of like the roughness of the phrase because it always makes me get my butt into high gear. To stop moping and dragging my feet and to just get to it.
Even though it doesn’t sound that great, I think “suck it up” is one of the best phrases to adopt. There are just things I don’t want to do. But, you just have to suck it up and get it done. Whether it’s the laundry that’s been accumulating for a week too long, putting together your taxes at the end of the year, or going to meet someone that you don’t really feel like meeting. If it has to be done, it has to be done.
I think we all have that friend who cancels last minute or the coworker who just doesn’t do an assignment… you don’t want to be that person.
Now, I think this “suck it up” policy is pretty easy to follow when you’re living at home in high school or while you’re at college. Your mom and dad are there to remind you (like my dad!) to suck it up. You can put off that twenty page paper only so long before you have to reluctantly suck it up and stay up all night to perfect it before tomorrow’s due date.
But when you’re living on your own, guess who’s deciding whether or not you have to suck it up? There’s no parent nagging you about your laundry and no professor expecting an A paper on her desk. It’s you, girlfriend. All you.
It’s so easy to let things slide. It’s remarkably freeing even to be like, “yep, I don’t have to do that!” And the truth is, you don’t have to do everything… but most of the time you should. (I do believe there are some things you don’t have to do even though someone’s said you’re supposed to.)
Adulthood is more or less about choices. And really, the stakes are higher although the choices feel a bit more mundane on an everyday basis. Make the choice to suck it up and do the thing that you don’t really want to do… but need to do. The laundry, the budget, the meeting. The doctor’s appointment you keep pushing to next month, the tough conversation you’ve been meaning to have with a friend.
I find that it’s the hardest part to just decide to suck it up. Once you make up your mind to do it, it almost always ends up being not as bad as you could have imagined. And you may have to suck it up and go to the hardware store to get a new piece for the toilet seat that randomly broke (woo, adulthood)… but then you can skip your vegetables and opt for binge-watching Parks and Recreation on Netflix while eating pizza from Seamless.
xoxo
When you live alone there are things you have to do, even if you don't want to do. But at the same time you cna be more relaxed on others. Little things like you can eat when you are really hungry and not because it's dinner time 😀
http://www.bonjourchiara.com
I guess it's time for me to suck it up and do all five of those tedious student employment forms for next year that I've been procrastinating all summer… Thanks for the kick in the butt! -Audrey | Brunch at Audrey's
I think it's a good piece of advice for millennials because we can feel so entitled sometimes. Sometimes, you just got to suck it up!
Great advice, Carly! Even though as an adult you don't get so much nagging from parents, I find that I'm starting to do things like they do!
http://memoriesofthepacific.blogspot.com.es/
ha what a perfect ending! Binge watching Parks and Rec is always my reward for sucking it up 😉
http://www.yellowmondays.com/
This is a great post; I am learning more and more what it is like to be an adult. I am learning that I don't like it. LOL
This was a great post! "Suck it up" has always been one of my dad's favorite mantras too. There are just some things that you have to get done, and the older you get, the more you have to rely on internal motivation!
honestly, this post was exactly what i needed to hear today. been letting things slide far too long. thanks for the kick in the booty that i didn't want to admit that i needed. much appreciation and "suck it up" is perfect. thanks carly!
I love this! I found when I moved out for uni, I was overwhelmed by the amount of things I have to do myself and not having someone do it for me. Trying to motivate yourself is so difficult! xx
Abi | abistreetx.blogspot.co.uk
Great advice!! I honestly say this to myself multiple times a day- I just need to suck it up!!! XD
xoxo
Grace Anne
http://totallygraced.blogspot.com/
Too true – I found this up and had to deal with it when I moved out for my first year of college. Nobody's really there to turn off the TV or tell you "No, don't go out, you have homework" anymore.
xx, Mikkaela
The Southwestern Prepster
So true! Sometimes sucking it up…sucks. But that's part of life!
Her Heartland Soul
http://herheartlandsoul.com
Needed to hear this today! I got back from vacation Sunday night and there's so many things I need to do, and definitely don't want to do. But…that's life, right? Being flakey or non-committal is more exhausting for me in the long run. If I get it done, I have more time to do what I truly want to do!
I love this post so very much. It really couldn't have come at a better time, as I'm moving out next month (what?!?!) and am going to have do my own laundry, buy my own toiletries, clean my own kitchen…. icccck. Anyways, great reminder. Love It. <3
This always applies to me. For a workaholic and semi perfectionist, I'm actually the laziest person ever. And the transition phase to funemployment has been difficult. I find myself struggling to pull it together and not completely let the day go without accomplishing anything. Good post!
Love this!
xoxo,
Katie
chicincarolina.blogspot.com
I feel like I'm always telling myself or someone else to suck it up. It's one of my favorite phrases! 🙂
Yes — all boils down to self-accountability, and finding friends who will hold you accountable when it seems like no one else is around! Love this post! xx
http://www.maryrachelbulkeley.com
I am totally in need of this motivational post right now! I am a SAHM trying to start a business and go back to school so there are a lot of things I should be doing that aren't in my face like "accomplish this right now". When I worked in sales & customer service I used the phrase "fake it til you make it" with my staff a lot. So I'm just going to keep pretending to be a driven individual until that manifests and becomes my reality!