3 Tips For Staying Calm When Life Is Full

Have you ever been in a season of go go go? Maybe you are in a season of go go go right now.

For me, the last three months have been simultaneously magical and exhausting. Who knew starting up our embroidery business after an 8 year hiatus, launching a website, creating a new minimalist clothing line for my side biz complete with a new name and branding change, along with all of my other “regular” duties would be so time consuming. HAHA. Ok, my husband did. He did warn me about doing it all at one time. But when the fire (fires) are lit after being idle for so long...I had to a strong urge to run with it all. 100% all in. The best part? Through it all, anxiety has been at a minimum (and if you know me, you know this is a huge deal!) and I am truly enjoying all of the changes and new beginnings in my life. 

I catch myself smiling at the most random times, I feel content and like I am where I’m supposed to be. It’s a little odd, because this is no where CLOSE to where I thought I’d be closing off 2019. Even if you would have asked me back in July. I wouldn’t have had the foggiest clue. There were quiet rumblings in my heart and I knew change was coming, but I would have never guessed all of this would happen. Dreams that I had tucked away deep down inside, and even ventures that I have full out resisted and screamed NO at for years, here we are. 

There has been a lot going on. It always feels like there are never enough hours in one day. But I’ve learned a few things along the way. Here are my top 3 tips for staying calm and

1)Pace Yourself. All of the things do NOT need to be done this day. I have an ongoing list of “to-dos” and I specially mark the ones that are priority. I have been able to convince myself that the rest of the list is there so I don’t forget about a task, and somehow, even if the list has 25 things on it, it isn’t overwhelming to me. I am constantly evaluating what the top 3 or 4 items are, and working on those first and then if I get to other things on the list, bonus! This has really helped me. I wake up in the morning and review the 3 or 4 priority items and know that if those items were ALL I managed to accomplish that day, I would still be doing well.

2)Focus on what it is you are doing at the moment. Watching volleyball? Don’t be thinking about work. Stitching? Don’t be thinking about the messy kitchen. Making supper? Don’t be thinking about any of the rest of it. Be present in what you are doing at the time! I have been intentional about blocking out ANYTHING that doesn’t relate to the thing I am doing at the moment. This has helped me so much!! If I’m watching my daughter’s volleyball game, it doesn’t help me to be thinking about all of the other things I need to do that day yet. I want to be invested in the game!

3)Plants are your friend. Peace and Calming and Stress Away are two essential oil blends that have been my BFF’s for years now, but I’ve really bumped up the applications. Hello clarity and grounding. When I apply oils, I take time to be still, to be intentional about my breathing and to clear my mind.  It’s amazing how powerful it is to stop and take some deep breaths. Inhale and exhale. Just breathe.

And because I have one more REALLY good one, here’s a bonus tip. 

4)Make time to do what YOU need to do. Yes everything may be fun and exciting and your task list MAY actually fill your soul. But there’s only so and so long you can run at top speed, you still need to take care of YOU. For me, sitting still at a desk or at my embroidery machine for hours on end is a big change from the active lifestyle I love. This morning I made time to get out to a 1hr fitness class because my body and mind CRAVE that time of pushing myself and challenging myself in a different way. Did I have time for it? No. But I made it priority today because I know how much exercise helps me be better in every area of my life.

I’d love to hear YOUR best tip for staying calm and managing life when it’s full to overflowing. Click the button below and let’s chat!

PS - the crewneck pictured above is part of the new line I just launched! Check it out HERE.