Like you, my life can be very chaotic. The dogs need out. The grandkids you promised to watch over the weekend are whining and screaming. Hubby needs help finding the mate to his sock. Dinner needs to be prepared. The bills are waiting to be paid. And on top of all that I have to find time to devote to my business.
AARGH!!! Sometimes it seems I’d be better off giving up on my needs and dreams.
But I know that’s not an option. I’ve spent too many years putting my dreams of running a successful business and becoming a published author on hold. I’m not ready to trash the dream.
So HOW do I find the time to fit myself into all this chaos?
Here are 7 Creative Ways to Find the Zen
Get Organized.
I know. I know. This sounds more like stress and work than relaxing and zen-like. I read the book The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up [just so you know I get a commission if you buy it through that link. ;)] that you can get on Amazon. It’s a great method of learning to declutter, organize and clean the chaos. But tidying up and getting rid of the clutter helps in the end. How often do you spend time searching for things or moving things around. Take an assessment of what you need and how you can organize it.
For example, my kitchen was a chaotic mess. I cleaned out my cabinet and tried to decide what I needed to organize my never ending supply of storage bowls and lids (and who doesn’t fight with finding those pesky lids to those necessary storage bowls?).
I’m trying to decide what I need to corral them. right now I have them contained into a shallow box, but still have to search for the right size. Any suggestions?
This handy rack is what I use to organize my canned goods in my pantry. I love it! It’s much easier to find and see what I have on hand to whip up a quick meal.
Make You a Priority.
Put time for yourself on your calendar. Take 5 to ten minutes out of your busy schedule to just indulge yourself. Read something fun or have a cup of herbal tea and just sit in a quiet place.
Use a planner to set aside time just for you. This one was recommended to me by a friend. I’ve ordered it and can’t wait to get started using it to ge me more organized.
Put Yourself First.
No, I don’t mean forget everyone else’s needs. Your job, your significant other, your pets need to be fed, the bills paid and anything else that’s a priority does have to be taken care of.
What I do mean is to take the first 5 to 10 minutes every morning to do something just for you. Maybe it’s simply relaxing with a good book or spending time working at your favorite hobby. Whatever it is make it your first priority.
Take a Time Out and Relax.
Forget about what everyone else wants. As long as their needs are taken care of and no one is starving or seriously hurt, think about your own desires. Grab a cup of herbal tea or your favorite coffee blend, find a quiet spot and just dream.
Delegate or Let Someone Else do it.
You don’t have to do everything. When your sink backs up, you probably call a plumber right? So why do you think you need to do everything yourself? Hire someone to do some of the stuff. Have someone come in and clean for you once in a while. Let your significant other or your mom help out with daily activities.
Get Energized.
It’s hard to be calm and relaxed when our bodies and mind are stressed. Our thoughts roam from one stressful thought to another. Maybe you binge out on ice cream when your stressed. I’ve been known in the past to eat a quart (or two) when things got really stressed. This in turn leads to more stress as you gain weight and lose energy.
The best way to get energized and feel more zen-like in your body is to eat a variety of healthy foods like fruits, vegetables, lean protein and avoiding processed foods as much as possible.
Avoid stress eating by finding other ways to release stress. Go for a walk, jump rope or dance. Take up boxing or some form of fun sport that let’s you release those stress emotions.
Keep your mind energized by reading books that help you improve your mindset, learn new things and doing things that fill you with a sense of peace.
Close your Eyes and Ears.
Hey, if you need to, close your eyes and ears and pretend the chaos is not happening. While you have your eyes closed, take a deep breath, count to ten and repeat for 2 minutes. Of course the chaos will still be there but you will feel recharged and be able to focus .
There you have it.
My idea of what it takes to have a zen-like life even when you’re surrounded by chaos. Want more ideas and guidance? Connect with me on Facebook or use the form below to sign up for email updates.