How to Destress Your Life By Creating Space (SHIFT 1)

Learn how to destress your life with these quick changes. 

“The good and the wise lead quiet lives.” – Euripides

Life is busy.

Too busy.

But I can tell you how to destress your life right away — make space for your true priorities instead of just living day-to-day carried along by whatever seems urgent at the moment.

So in our SHIFT Challenge, our first shift is to Create Space.

Many times we think that we need to be more organized, when what we really need is to simplify. We need fewer distractions, fewer activities and fewer material possessions.

We have to be intentional about making space in our lives.

It can be challenging, but here’s what happens when we do.

The Benefits of Making Space

We have room to destress.

Clutter — whether it’s physical mess in our homes, the backlog of emails and photos on our smart phones, too many activities in our schedule, or too much going on in our minds — is stressful. Every additional item adds weight to our lives.

But when we make space, we have the room we need to destress and cut through our anxiety and stress.

We have room to relate.

When our schedules are too full of activities and meetings, and our homes are too full of clutter, we are constantly running from one thing to the next.

But when we make space, we have the time for leisurely conversation and just having fun. I’ve found that the most meaningful conversations and memories result from these relaxed times. If we’re too busy, we will miss them.

We have room to enjoy.

Speaking of relaxed time, when was the last time you really enjoyed something?

When our lives are cluttered we stay in the stress zone which prevents us from actually slowing down and enjoying the little things in life. Making space gives us room to stop and smell the roses, both literally and figuratively.

We have room to create.

We were created to create. Whether it’s a special meal, a baby quilt, a garden plot, a painting, a story, a song, or a letter to someone we love, we all have something inside of us yearning to get out.

When we make space, we have the room to create those things that will bring light and love and beauty into the world.

We have room to hear.

Lao Tzu said, “Silence is a source of great strength.” When we make space for quiet in our days and weeks, we have time to just listen to what God and our lives are speaking to us. The silence then strengthens us to do what is most important.

Give yourself the gift of space in your home, schedule, finances and digital life and you just might discover freedom, joy and excitement again — the joy of doing what you love, taking advantage of the serendipitous moments and loving others well. When you make space you will flourish physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.

How to Destress Your Life By Making Space

This week I encourage you to choose one (or more, if you’re adventurous!) of these tiny shifts to make space in your life.

SAVINGS

Let’s make space in our finances by finding by finding one tiny shift we can make in order to add some money to savings — even if it’s only $5.

Skip buying the fancy cheese, plan some cheap meals, make your coffee at home or avoid Target. (The Dollar Spot gets me every. single. time.)

HOME

Francine Jay of Miss Minimalist has a great quote,

Your home is LIVING space, not storage space.”

Let’s make space in our homes by creating a haven of beauty and rest in one small area.

It could be your nightstand, your coffee table or your kitchen counter. Focus on keeping that one area clean and clutter free this week, and maybe even buy some flowers to pretty it up.

IDENTITY

Let’s make space to recognize who we really are. Rather than allowing others to influence your identity, take a break from social media for a day (or a week) and focus on spending quiet time journaling and reflecting on who you are, who you want to be and what your true values are.

Quiet the inner critic who tells us we’re not doing enough, that we are not good enough, that we are failing. Make space for positivity by telling yourself affirming words throughout your day: “I’m doing my very best.”; “I am wise and can make good choices.”; “I’m freakin’ awesome!”  

FAMILY

Let’s make space for some quiet family time this week. Plan a fun, stress-free time together like a picnic in a park or in your living room while you play games together.

TIME

Let’s make space in our schedules by removing one obligation or activity to make time for a life priority. Postpone volunteering, delegate a task or move an appointment so that you can create an opening in your schedule for something that is truly important to you.

Remember, SHIFT is about refocusing on our top priorities and realigning ourselves with our values, not about stress.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, choose ONE tiny shift to make this week in the area that needs the most attention, and trust that you will be able to make more positive changes in the weeks and months to come. Rome wasn’t built in a day, right?

My Shifts

I’m going to focus on savings this upcoming week. Our grocery bill exploded over the summer, so I’m putting on my big girl pants and starting to rein that back in.

Watch my Instagram Story HERE to see my grocery budget victory earlier this week.

I would love to hear which SHIFTs you will be making so leave a comment.

And be sure to leave a comment on THIS POST to enter to win $50 Pay Pal cash — yay!

See all the SHIFT Challenge posts HERE.

Making Space!

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