How to be a Peaceful Busy Person

As much as we'd all like to live a low-key, relaxed lifestyle every day of the year, the reality is that for most of us that's not even in the realm of possibility. Being busy is something we can't seem to escape in our world. Sure we might occasionally have relaxed seasons (for most of us they're called vacations ;) but most of the time, life seems to fill us up with demands and to-dos everyday of the week.

And you know what? I've decided that's okay. Being busy is not the worst thing in the world, and it doesn't have to mean we'll be overwhelmed or lose track of the things that matter in life. I'm starting to believe that being busy and being peaceful don't have to be contradictions. All it takes is being intentional during our busy seasons, and making the state of our hearts and souls a priority.

So these are a few little things I'm starting to put into practice in the midst of my busyness. They don't require a lifestyle change- just a different approach to a regular, busy day.

Turn the Car Radio Off

Yes, this includes the Christian music stations. There's nothing wrong with listening to music when you drive, but I've noticed that when I do it everyday it becomes numbing. It's an easy distraction off our own thoughts, but not always for the better. Let's face it: when we're in a busy season, we don't always have time to contemplate about life and work through the things that might be hiding in our hearts. But driving is the perfect opportunity. It doesn't take any extra time out of our schedules, but it can change our outlook on the day. I'm not saying you should focus on your worries when you drive instead of playing the radio. But I am saying you should be intentional about your thoughts while driving. Pray. Reflect. Think about your dreams. Don't waste a perfectly good opportunity to contemplate and relax.

Be Smart with Social Media

I'm not going to tell you to get off social media for good because I probably wouldn't even be able to, but I am saying you can be more intentional about how you use it. Scroll through your entire Instagram feed if you want- that's fine. But maybe don't cyberstalk people who you don't even talk to. I'm going to be transparently honest for a second: the "following" tab of Instagram is my least favorite. For some reason, it seems to always lead me to compare myself to others. That's probably because looking at pictures from acquaintances is different than scrolling through a good friend or stranger's feed. It's somehow easier to compare ourselves to people we've personally seen made up and put together but don't have a close relationship with enough to have also seen the flaws. Consider that with your other social outlets- what leaves you feeling depressed or frustrated on each site? Once you pinpoint it, try to avoid it.

Stimulate Your Mind

We may not have all grown up loving school, but I believe that everyone loves learning. Something ignites in our minds when we learn something new, especially when it's about a topic we're interested in. Learning things throughout the week can make you feel more awake and alive even as you stick to your regular, every day routine. An easy way to do this is to skip Netflix during your lunch break and watch a Ted talk or documentary instead. It requires the exact same amount of work, but you'll be keeping your brain engaged in a much more productive way. If that still sounds boring, try it just once a week and start with Ted talks which are categorized by subjects.

Have Meaningful Conversations

Small talk is easy and safe. That's why we naturally gravitate to talking about the weather, sports games, and TV shows. But the connections we make with other people about these things are superficial. True friendships aren't born out of a shared love for the Real Housewives of anything. They're born when two people share their dreams and fears with each other. And we need those kinds of friendships to live full and peaceful lives. There are some people with whom these conversations happen naturally (don't you love those types of people, people who aren't afraid to dive into the depths?). But there are others with whom we must be more intentional. So next time you're meeting someone from lunch, try not to spend the whole hour talking about who got kicked off the Bachelor (although a few minutes for that is understandable). Ask them about what's going on in their life, about their next project, their biggest dream. A good conversation is bound to come out of that.

To be honest, I don't always put these ideas into practice. But when I have, they've completely changed my day. So I want to be more intentional about all of them because I truly believe they will help me not lose my head when I'm so busy. Because these days who even has time for a mental or emotional breakdown? ;)

#life #2016