It’s not uncommon these days to get so busy
that you don’t even realize you are overwhelmed,
tired and headed for a burn out.With work, kids, and other obligations, life can get out of control very quickly.
In the midst of the chaos, you lose the meaning of what you are doing
and you have too much invested to notice.
Your soul whispers to you but you don’t hear.
It happened to me without me seeing it.
Things seemed to be flowing smoothly in the blended work life that I created.
I love what I do. But the flow got so fast I didn’t know how to slow it down.
Here’s what that looked like for me. Being a multi-passionate entrepreneur, I divide my time each week: half is spent supporting a small non-profit that supports families with a seriously ill child with cancer, and the other half is spent branding and marketing small wellness businesses to get them more clients. A great combination. Until I’m running so hard and fast, working every minute of every day, and realize I’ve lost the whole reason I created this lifestyle in the first place: flexibility to live a happy, meaningful and adventurous life.
There was no personal time, no time to recharge, no time to enjoy the things in life that I love to do. My soul felt empty, drained and exhausted, and I knew I had to make a change.
Here are 5 secrets I discovered that helped me renew, recharge and get the happy back into my life:
1. Create a margin. If you want to add the spark and happiness back into your life, you need to have the space to welcome it. Just like a polaroid photo with a small white margin around it, you need to add that same padding into your day. For me, that meant finishing up a few marketing contracts and not replacing them. Give yourself some space so when something comes up in the moment, you not only notice it, but you can jump into it and embrace it.
2. Protect the new space. Don’t pre-schedule. Savor the time. Life is a mystery, and the only thing we know for sure is what’s right here and right now. When you take a pause and live into that, magic moments will start to happen that feed your parched soul like water in the desert. You’ll see that it’s the little things that matter.
3. Sleep, pray, eat well and exercise. This is a priority to me. When you take time to replenish your spirit it allows you to serve others from your overflow. If your bucket is empty, what do you have to offer?
4. Break old habits. Start with being honest with yourself by taking a serious look at what’s missing and stealing your joy. Create new options that replace the old patterns. It doesn’t take long to create new habits, and you will quickly see that you become what you do.
5. Dare to say yes. Really, so simple but so life changing. Do something different. Be brave enough to look the world straight in the eye and step out even though you might feel uncomfortable. Say yes, a hearty yes, to new adventures! Fall in love with life all over again.
The last step of dare to say yes, refueled me like nothing else. I am an adventuress, and I lost that part of me in the day to day chaos. Here’s the difference this made to me in just one month:
- I joined a 6 week hiking training group with people I didn’t know. Stepping out of my comfort zone – absolutely – but I forced myself to go. A little awkward at first as they were hoofing it up the mountain and I was the lagger, but I kept at it and I’m right with them now. After just 3 weeks, it has become a highlight of my week, not only with the challenge and adventure, but I have made a lovely group of new friends.
- A personal trainer has partnered with me to amp up my eating habits and exercise routine. I’ve lost fat, gained muscle and feel fabulous with only 1 month in.
- On a windy, sunny day, I said yes to sailing with a new friend on Puget Sound. It’s been over 20 years since I sailed, so once again it’s a big stretch, but it turned out to be the most exhilarating thing I done for a long time. So much that I am enrolled in a sailing certification course next weekend!
- It didn’t take much to say yes to an adventuresome 32 mile bike tour event on Lopez Island, which is one of my favorites in the San Juan Islands. In just an hour drive and a short ferry ride, we were biking on a glorious rural island with Puget Sound all around us. I am reminded that nothing is too good to be true.
It feels so fabulous to be back. I’m reclaiming my title: Chief Adventuress. Each day I will wake up with expectation for what’s ahead for that day, believing that the best is yet to be. I believe that opportunity is everywhere and all around me.
There’s more to come and more to share. But how about you? Which of these secrets will help you you renew, recharge and be happy?
Life is for you.