A few days ago, I had a major flood at my house. I took a bath in my master bathroom for the first time since moving into my house a few months ago. Apparently, there was a leak in the drain, and I now have water damage on three floors. Ceilings and walls now have big chunks cut out of them, flooring is ripped up, there are fans and dehumidifiers all over my house.
It’s a bonafide sh%*show!
If you’ve ever been through something similar, you get it. It’s overwhelming, unsettling, stressful, and chaotic. The energy in your home is frenetic. And it’s going to be that way for a while. Over the next few weeks, I anticipate a parade of helpers…plumbers, painters, flooring folks, electricians… thank goodness there are so many talented people in the world!
The good news is that I work from home, so I can easily be available to meet with all these contractors and oversee the work. The bad news is also that I work from home. It’s going to be very difficult to stay focused, on task & get any creative work done with all the distractions, noise, and interruptions.
Fortunately, I have an excellent self-care toolbox to pull from. As I share some of my strategies with you, they will serve as reminders for me to help me navigate the next few weeks!
4 Tips to Help Stay Calm in the Chaos
1. Pull out your self-care toolbox and simply assess all the resources available to you.
Journaling, meditation, hiking, listening to good music, eating, good food, getting enough, sleep, doing yoga, deep breathing, praying at my alter, calling friends. If you haven’t read my first book on Kindle yet, now would be a great time to do it! Download Smart Self-Care for Busy Women.
2. Wear a Sacred Celebrations howlite dragonfly bracelet every day.
Howlite is one of my favorite crystals for offering calm, peace, and ease. And the dragonfly, my personal spirit totem animal, reminds us that we are oh-so-resilient. Did you know that dragonflies can live in three different environments and fly in six different directions? Yeah, that’s powerful medicine right there. (You could do what I did and get yourself a dragonfly tattoo… But if you don’t want to go that far, buying yourself one of my dragonfly creations to wear on your wrist is a good option.!!!)
3. Journal and pull inspirational cards.
I have been leaning into the work and expertise of one of my coaching clients and colleagues, Nicola Ries Taggart. She designed a gorgeous journal and deck of cards called “Calm the Chaos”. I have been pulling a card every day to remind me to stay in the present moment. And her journal is an excellent grounding activity to do every night after a stressful day. I encourage you to check them out!
4. Connect with friends regularly.
I’ve had to call a lot of friends and ask for help this week and I’m oh-so-grateful to have a strong network to lean into. But it has been equally important to just chat with friends about everyday living (parenting, work, relationships, etc.), exchange silly memes and remember that life goes on! It’s important not to get so consumed by the chaos, that you forget there’s plenty of joy and love all around!
What do YOU like to do when the proverbial s%$t hits the fan? How do you “Calm the Chaos”? Leave a comment and let me know!
Elizabeth
P.S. Don’t forget GRATITUDE! It’s probably my biggest self-care support. When life gets upside down, be sure to look for the bright spots. In my case, the damage occurred in hallways and stairwells so nothing terribly personal got damaged. Riley was with Eric when it happened, so she didn’t have to live through the stress of a flood! I’ve got a TON of support here in Asheville–hands-on as well as practical resources. And, I have insurance! So many things to be thankful for.
P.P.S. If you’ve had a similar house disaster, leave a comment and tell me about it so I don’t feel so alone! I want to hear how you triumphed over it and what the silver linings were!