Right now is a big season of change for many of the founders I have been chatting with and maybe you, too, have been feeling a bit unsteady this season.
Between economic shifts, seasonal transitions, and big life changes (moves, endings of relationships, loss, etc.), the collective energy feels a bit frantic as folks try to grapple with all of the change flooding their lives in this season of life + business.
As I was on my morning walk earlier today, I was processing some of the big changes happening in my life in this season and analyzing how I’ve been grappling with the shifts taking place.
Come to find out…I haven’t been handling the changes very well…at all :/
I stepped away from my meditation practice because I’ve been trying to avoid actually feeling my feelings. I’ve been scrolling on my phone for hours on end (see previous statement about trying to avoid feeling my feelings). I’ve kept myself busy every second of every waking hour. I’ve been eating out way more than usual because I just don’t have the energy to cook. I’ve followed every negative mental spiral to the very end of the rabbit hole in the hopes of finding some answers.
You get the point.
I’m not shaming myself for doing these things because, at the end of the day, these have just been my attempts at feeling safe amidst change. These habits, however, are just band aids and aren’t actually tools that will help me feel better long term. What I truly need to find more peace in my life amidst big changes is a regulated nervous system.
So, as we kick off a new week, here are the tools and processes I’m committing myself to as I continue to navigate big changes in my life:
- Prioritize getting at least 8 hours of sleep. Having a regulated nervous system starts with making quality sleep a priority.
- Put away the phone. As I try to find more presence and groundedness in my life, I know that I need to limit access to my phone. My phone instantly pulls me out of the present moment and, therefore, blocks me from experiencing joy in the more mundane moments of life. I also know that I have a habit of reaching for my phone as a way to numb or distract myself when I’m feeling discomfort or overwhelm. Rather than trying to push those feelings away, I want to be present with them. My emotions have something to teach me and I want to be able to listen without any distractions.
- Be where my feet are. Whether I’m cooking a meal, going for a walk, or answering emails, I am committing myself to paying more attention to the actions I am taking and will, therefore, be limiting my habit of multi-tasking. I will be going on more silent walks so I can pay attention to the sound of the birds, the feeling of the fall breeze, and the colors of the leaves. I will be turning off music and podcasts when I shower, cook, and clean so I can focus on the task at hand rather than disassociating. I will only do one work task at a time so that I am intentionally showing up for my business rather than speeding through the work day. This intention of slowing down and paying attention is what my nervous system needs to feel safe and at ease.
- Spend more time outside. The transition from summer to fall is, typically, a difficult one for me. As much as I love both seasons, I am always sad to see summer go. To help ease myself into this transition, I want to spend more time outside so my body can gradually acclimate to the environmental changes that will be taking place over the next few weeks. Plus, as an added bonus, spending more time in nature is a great way to ground yourself which is exactly what I need in this season of my life + business.
- Counteract the anxious energy so I can find equilibrium. With so much energy buzzing through my mind and body, I know that I need to invite in some more grounding energy to counteract the overwhelm. Some ways I’m planning on doing this are: eating warm, grounding foods (like butternut squash soup and stuffed sweet potatoes), moving my body slowly + intentionally (more walks and more Yin Yoga…less high intensity movement), easing my way back into my meditation and breathwork practices, and wearing comforting clothes that make me feel at home in my body.
- Continue to add to my fall vision board on Pinterest. At the start of every new season, I like to make a vision board on Pinterest to help set some intentions for the next 3 months ahead. I made my fall vision board at the beginning of September, but will continue to add to it as I gain more clarity on my needs and desires amidst the changes I’m moving through. Adding to my vision board as I have more clarity, helps me to feel excited about the changes ahead AND gives me a roadmap of where I need to carve out time to ensure that I have the space to create the moments I am wanting to see in my life in this next season.
- Audit my time and analyze how I’m spending it. With my mental and energetic capacity being so low right now (hello burn out, brain fog, and a dysregulated nervous system!), I need to make sure that I am spending my time wisely. When I face big changes in my life, I have the tendency of overextending myself to try to “fix” the things shifting around me (sound familiar?). As I have come to learn, however, resisting change only creates more heartache. Rather than using up all of my time and energy trying to “fix” that which does not need fixing, I know it will be better for me to focus my time on the things that bring me joy. Over the next few weeks, I will be moving through our time audit (found HERE in our marketplace for free) and using it as a seasonal reset.
I hope these tools help you to find more peace amidst any changes that may be throwing you off center in this season of your life + business. We’re sending a whole lot of love your way as you settle into whatever life brings you next <3
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