The holidays can be very chaotic. At some point, we just need a break. Maybe it is time to escape the chaos and schedule some time for yourself and start dreaming about the New Year.
A new year can mean different things to different people. Some see it as a blank canvas, just waiting for the color of adventures and excitement to create a masterpiece. Others see it as an adventure and seeing where the river may take us.
Others see it as a blank calendar, ready to be filled with daily activities. There are a few who shrug it off and take the ‘whatever will be’ attitude.
And then there are those who are a little bit intimidated by it, as if waiting for the other shoe to drop. We have suffered through a pandemic with multiple strains that keep cropping up. There have been deaths, illnesses, loss of jobs, and so many other hardships we have had to weather.
Dealing with holiday stress is real. There needs to be a balance. Instead of looking at it through rose-colored glasses or as another puddle of quicksand, maybe we just need to allow our minds to escape the chaos of previous years and plan for a way to find happiness and contentment in the upcoming year.
How to Escape the Chaos
The first step we need to make to escape the chaos is simple. Find at least one hour a day, two days a week, where you can just sit and relax for a spell. You can just call this you Chaos Break!
To truly escape the chaos, this period of time needs to be just that. No thinking about what needs to be done. No To Do lists. No worries. No interruptions.
It doesn’t have to be completely silent. One of the best things you can do to help you relax is to have a bit of soft music in the background. It can be classical, jazz, blues, or even Christmas carols. Just keep it low and in the background.
If you have a favorite hot beverage, be sure to bring it with you. A favorite treat or even a plate of your favorite cookie, cake, or other snack can make this time a bit more enjoyable.
During this quiet time you will need a notebook and a pen. This is not for making lists, but will come in handy, as you will see in a moment.
Next, be sure to let others in the household know that this is your private time. Unless there is an emergency, ask them to please not disturb you.
The Next Step
Once you have settled into your quiet place, get prepared to dream a little. The first step is to just breathe and relax your entire body. Clear your thoughts. If you have a window, look, but don’t focus on the day outside. Escape the chaos by focusing on little to nothing.
Once you have fully relaxed, start dreaming. What are you doing that you want to change? Do you want to stop doing it altogether, or do you want to step it up a notch and improve?
Answer this question:
“If I could do anything, I would _____________________.”
If you fill in that blank with travel, add where you want to go. If you want to learn something new, be specific. And if you want to change your lifestyle completely, make it clear what your dream is.
There may be more than one way to fill out the blank, and that’s okay. Just keep asking yourself that question until you feel you have covered all your options.
Just remember. Don’t allow yourself to follow up the blank with reasons why your choices cannot be done. All that does is lead you full circle. You are trying to escape the chaos, not make a pathway back to it.
Now for the notebook and pen. Do a bit of free flow writing. Jot down the different ways you filled in the blank. It doesn’t matter if they are realistic. The important part is knowing what you really want to do with your life. We will deal with reality later in the next post.
If Your Goal is to Live a Simple Life
Changing lifestyles may sound difficult. But take a look at the one you have now. How much time do you have to do the things you truly love to do? How much of your income does it take to keep up the lifestyle that is no longer working for you? What passions are drifting by the wayside because you just don’t have the time, money, or energy to pursue them any longer?
Living a Simple Life isn’t difficult at all. The key is to discover what is most important to you and start with that. From there, look at your current lifestyle and see what elements no longer fit with your ideal life.
Write these things down in your notebook. It helps to do a comparison list. On one half of a sheet of paper, write down all the things you currently do on a daily or weekly basis. On the other half, list the things you feel a Simple Life has to offer.
This will help you to compare which lifestyle will work better for you.
Give Yourself Time to Escape the Chaos
If you will notice, I suggested one hour at least two days a week. This is because there are still things to get done to get ready for the holidays. By learning how to escape the chaos for a couple of hours a week, you will be more relaxed and focused.
At the same time, you will know in the back of your mind that you are still planning for a better, more productive, and contented future.
Escape the Chaos
This post is designed to help you take time to find where the chaos is coming from in your life. Once you can pinpoint it, then you can move to the next step, which will help you plan for a better new year. Each post will take you step-by-step through the chaotic emotions and reality of hardships and help you find ways to overcome the obstacles you face.
As we progress through December, there will be more things to think about during your quiet time. From ways to redesign your Lifestyle to treating yourself to a spa break, just know there are ways you can escape the chaos.
Each post will help you to think through the dreams you have, and, if possible, help you turn those dreams into reality. You will learn how to set goals, explore options, and eventually feel more confident in making definite plans for the new year. And you even will get to treat yourself to a home Spa Day before the serious holiday rush begins!
What better way to face the unknown of a new year than by overcoming the obstacles before it even gets here! When you escape the chaos now, you can feel more comfortable with the oncoming new year and get ready to live that Simple Life you always wanted to live but didn’t know how to get started.
