12 Steps to Finding Peace

Life can feel so overwhelming sometimes, especially if you are juggling work, kids, caring for parents, looking after a home, trying to keep in contact with friends, and (if you remember) looking after yourself. It doesn’t feel like there is any inner peace or calmness. I remember it well. Until I started to make some changes I just felt like my life was being swept along by this massive tornado, but I never seemed to reach the quiet of the central ‘eye’. After finally being dumped broken by this whirlwind, I learned some steps to find that inner peace. I am writing this blog to remind myself as a memory came up on my FB in which I sounded so stressed, fed up and negative. I know that at that time nothing in my life felt peaceful. My life is very different now, thank goodness. Here are the steps.

1. Set boundaries. Do what you need to do and let the less important things go. Say ‘No’ if you want to.
2. If you are stressing and panicking about things, ask yourself if it really matters in the grand scheme of things and will you even remember 3 years from now? See the situation from outside yourself.
3. Find a positive way to relax that works for you. It could be music, meditation, exercise, deep breathing, yoga, a walk in nature or escaping life by reading or watching a film. Don’t lean on alcohol, drugs or food as they are only temporary fixes and in the end will cause you more stress.
4. Consciously slow everything down, your walking, your eating, talking etc. This sounds counter productive as you have loads to do but slowing down will make you feel less stressed then rushing.
5. Stop procrastinating. I used to put off phone calls or certain tasks, and the thought of doing them used to stress me out. Ticking a couple of these things off each day helps you feel more in control.
6. Take time out. Don’t look at your emails during the evening, have designated time for you, or even go for a break away.
7. Communicate. Share the load, ask for help if you need it, stop trying to anticipate what other people want and need, but ask. Share your feelings with someone you trust.
8. Live in the now. Don’t think about things in the past (you can’t change them) or worry about the future, but deal with now. Be in the present.
9. Get up early so that you can start your day slowly and are not rushing. Try to think positively about your day and prioritise and plan.
10. Declutter your home, your work space and your mind. This helps with relaxation.
11. If you don’t get something done don’t beat yourself up. It can always be done tomorrow.
12. Breathe and know that you are doing the best you can. You are not a robot. No job, friendship, task or situation is worth risking your mental health over. We are not indispensable. If you take time out then work will cope, your family will cope, friends will cope and the world will keep turning. Have a good day.