Making time in a busy life

The pandemic has helped to slow the world down a little, but pre-pandemic I found myself saying I was ‘busy’ all the time.  When stress levels took themselves to higher heights I knew I needed something to offset that feeling of anxiety.

I read ‘The Artist’s Way’ by Julia Cameron and challenged myself to 12 weeks of writing 3 pages a day.  I set my alarm for 30 minutes earlier, the house was quiet as others were still sleeping.  I made my coffee, sat with my pen in hand and I wrote.  It was less about what I wrote and more about the practice of writing that set the mood of calmness.  It was as simple as taking the time to be present and aware in the moment, instead of thinking of the work day and rushing into it.

Then there was art.  I started with an art journal bound book and filled pages with art practices.   I found instruction available in magazines, I also took an art class locally that provided some guidance on how to get into the flow of your creative nature.  Even if I just found 30 minutes that day, it made a big impact to my day.  My busy, highly intense, extremely energized day that left me feeling depleted, now slowed down a little.  I felt my energy was more at peace.

We often cannot control entire days, but we can make a little room for a daily practice that allows the body to rest/renew/reenergize.  That shift allowed me to approach the day and situations with a better, more relaxed version of myself.