Rushin' Around, the Christmas Tree...
That's how the song goes, right? Or at least it seems that should be the case this time of year! It seems that this season which I want to be full of rest, reflection, and anticipation of advent often comes with a sense of hurry and exhaustion.
Lately it feels to me like every single day is full from sun up to sun down, even the weekends. 'Sabbath' has not been happening in our household, and we are feeling the weight of it. Don't get me wrong, our packed schedule has been full of fun, enjoyable, and even life-giving events, but we are also reaping the exhaustion from not feeling as though we have time to just 'be.'
So what do we do? How do we enjoy this season? (which, by the way, happens to be one that I adore... especially the delicious smelling baked goods and christmas trees!) When we feel that we have no time, or the time is not ours to control, our anxiety spikes, our minds get foggy, and we feel consistently overwhelmed. So, let's make a plan.
The first thing I am trying to do is breathe. Sounds easy, right? But I mean fully, consciously, and with an intentional presence, breathe. Stopping to do this multiple times a day. In... and out. Breathing in the good, grateful, and lovely. Exhaling the stress, tension, or worry. Inhaling the sounds and smells and beauty, exhaling my furrowed brow or foggy mind.
Next, write it down. I have a tendency to make lists. The problem is, however, a list can add to feeling overwhelmed, especially if it's excessively long! So instead, I've been working to create one huge list, and then break it up into little 'nuggets' as I call them, or goals for each day. I am working to remember that realistic, daily goals are attainable and will feel much more successful and satisfying when accomplished. Two to Three goals a day are reasonable, and maybe if you're feeling extra energetic, add one more.
One. Day. At. A. Time. This allows us to be fully engaged, and fully present, not dwelling on the past or always looking to the future.
Self Care. It's so important. We think of this sometimes in ways that may actually not be so helpful... for example maybe we think shopping or spending money is great self care, until we come home to being stressed again about finances. Or we think a one day juice fast is great self care, until we have a million things to do that day and we find ourselves exhausted or hangry. Therefore, know yourself. Listen to your body and your mind. Maybe self-care will look like taking a hot, mindful shower and scrubbing your body with a wash cloth to improve blood flow. Or taking an epsom salt bath with some amazing essential oils. Or sitting down on the ground outside, feeling the leaves crunch and the sun melt into your back. It may be paying attention to what you're putting in your body. Junk food, processed food, sugar... these do not help us, they promote stress and fat storage in our bodies, as well as break down our bones and brains. Or, maybe it's taking a little time in the morning to journal feelings and intentions or prayers for the day. Check in with yourself and find out what you're really needing; mind, body, and spirit. ** Hint: if "self-care" is damaging to others, or to your body, it is probably not constructive for your 'self' either.
Caffeine. Many of us have a tendency to lean into our vices when we feel busy or stressed. Maybe that means chugging caffeine throughout the day, then ending the day with alcohol just to 'calm' yourself down. (Ever heard someone say that caffeine doesn't affect them, and then in the same breath they talk about not being able to sleep at night? Sounds like a correlation to me! Same goes with sugar!) Those habits will actually continue to put stress in and on your body. If we want to get our parasympathetic nervous system engaged, in other words our rest and restore system, we can't keep pumping it full of adrenaline inducing substances, including stress! Our body doesn't know the difference between work stress or stress from being chased by a bear, so any negative stress will cause our adrenaline to spike and our body will go into survival mode, which even means storing fat, which loves more fat, like holiday treats! (did you know fat cells are the hungriest cells? so the more we give them, the more they want! but that does NOT mean switch to fat free! they just need the GOOD fat from REAL foods. Good fat actually helps us lose or maintain our weight! Sugars and processed foods cause fat storage in our bodies. Ok, off my soapbox.) Try switching to decaf in the afternoon, herbal tea, or hot water with lemon. And stay hydrated with lots and lots of water so you can avoid migraines and exhaustion. Then, try having a bed time routine that is calming and relaxing, leaving work out of the bedroom. Bedrooms are for sleeping and... married things. ;) That's all!
Lastly... Joy. May we remember the gift that is this advent season, even more than the little chocolate that comes out of an advent calendar each day. :) (even tho that's a pretty good system if you ask me!) May we anticipate the coming of our Lord in ways that are full and now, as well as what is yet to come. May we be a part of the peace-making, creative, humble, goodness that God is at work in us to do. May we take each day with great hope and intention, not blindly rushing through and missing the beauty that surrounds us. I know when I live out of anxiety, stress, or telling myself I'm too 'busy,' I miss things. I miss the joy. I miss seeing Jesus in the wind or the trees or in peoples' faces. I miss being kind and loving to others. I become self-centered or I feel pity rather than empowerment. So, may you, me, and we take each day with courage, calm, creativity, humility, forgiveness (for ourselves and others), and Joy; true, gut-level, life-altering, JOY.
"Nothing has been a greater gift to me than the three lessons I learned about joy and light from people who have spent time in sorrow and darkness:
Joy comes to us in moments-ordinary moments. We risk missing out on joy when we get too busy chasing down the extraordinary.
Be grateful for what you have.
Don’t squander joy.” Brene Brown, Daring Greatly