I woke up this morning and before both feet hit the ground, my mile-long To Do list starting scrolling in my mind. Within a minute of being awake, the overwhelm kicked in and I felt like I had just so much to do that I had to start now and not stop (probably forever). I felt like I needed to take action on 10 different things immediately. You’ve felt that, right? Maybe you’re even feeling it right now.
It wasn’t easy… but I stopped myself. I pulled the emergency break on the mind mess. I decided that, if I were to get anything done today with the excellence that each task deserves, I needed to stop and take a moment, take the time to open up my best self. Less doing, more growing. Less mania, more ease. Less overwhelm, more grace. Less how, more why.
Basically, I needed to take my own advice.
So I grabbed the iPad, popped on a Yoga with Adriene class and took my first half an hour awake for me and my practice. I guarantee that taking that 27 or so minutes this morning to open my heart and hips does not translate into me getting “nothing done” today. In fact, taking that 27 minutes translates into me approaching every task I do today with greater focus and poise, the excellence that each task deserves. Hey, if it doesn’t deserve excellence, why am I taking time to do it at all?
And another secret to squashing the overwhelming the mind mess: do one thing you’ve been avoiding or putting off. Here’s a list of suggestions, if one thing doesn’t come to mind for you on your own. Pick one and do it as soon as you’re done reading this. If you’re feeling called, share with me which you’ve picked and executed.
- Empty your purse. Clean out the non-essentials.
- Clean out your email inbox. Delete. Delete. Delete.
- Unsubscribe to 5 emails that you never open anyway.
- Subscribe to my newsletter (had to throw that in there).
- Make that call or send that text to that one friend you’ve been missing.
- Empty the dishwasher. If yours is already empty, come empty mine.
- Close your eyes for 4 minutes and let your mind wander.
- Grab a book or magazine and read for 15 minutes.
- Is it “nice” out? Walk around the block without your phone.
- Go get that pedicure, especially if it’s nice out.
Remember, you are just picking one. No need for more overwhelm in our days!
Much love.