Let it Go

If you are anything like us and your brain has turned a bit mushy with parenthood and or age and your memory seems to have faded to the point where you are like, “you know the thing where you eat food, no not the kitchen, the thing where you sit and you put your plate on it, A TABLE, that is the word!” It would be far less embarrassing if you were bilingual, but no, your brain just can’t seem to hold onto the important things you need to remember. However you can still sing along to The Sound of Music when your teenager asks you to watch this great “new movie” with them they found on Disney Plus. A movie you watched a lot as a kid and was actually filmed when your mother was a child. But we digress. Our brains are sometimes not as sharp as we wish they were, or as balanced or as calm as we would hope them to be. But this is real life, so instead of singing about our pain like we would in a musical, we will dispense some real world support and advice on how to deal with all the chaos, anxiety and mental health strain we can all relate to.

Maria: I can’t seem to stop singing wherever I am. And what’s worse, I can’t seem to stop saying things, anything and everything I think and feel.
Mother Abbess: Some people would call that honesty.
Maria: Oh, but it’s terrible, Reverend Mother.
(The Sound of Music)

*Feeling completely overwhelmed*
Life can’t always be a day at the beach or a long hike up a quiet trail or insert whatever metaphor or place that makes you instantly Zen and allows your shoulders to drop from their stressed hunch around your ears to their proper position. Life is complicated, messy, busy and often feels like a race to a finish line that is always getting moved further away. So how can we insert some calm into our hectic, crazy lives? Simply put, we organize.

*Let’s get Organized*
First get a big wall calendar or download a shared calendar app or create a shared calendar on Google. Put everything on there, all your work projects, dentist and doctor visits, school events, sports events, fun events, just mark it all down. Color code, add pictures, delegate, and most importantly, cut out the events and tasks that are draining you (if possible). Remember to plan for downtime to recharge, mark the days where you are calling it a night early and going to bed. Plan for the days you are eating in and the days you are eating out and budget accordingly. It may seem like a lot of work, but every month it will get easier. Knowing what you are supposed to be doing and having a clear picture of your day, week and month will allow you to prepare better, which in turn creates a feeling of calm. Being busy isn’t what is making you stressed, not having a clear picture of what is required of you is.

I know it all ends tomorrow, so it has to be today. -Anna (Frozen)

*Life makes me anxious*
There are so many decisions we have to make as adults, it feels overwhelming at times. As kids our parents, school and after school activities naturally created our schedules, we just had to wander from one to the next. We had to account for our homework and other assignments, but our schedules were largely laid out for us and we didn’t have to put a lot of thought or time into it. In college we were given a little more freedom, but in the years that followed it spiraled into all out chaos. Now we have a life, a job, kids, pets, responsibilities like taking our car to be fixed and school pickup and work responsibilities and activities and we are left feeling anxious and overwhelmed about everything.

*A Plan*
So we have to decide, is this something we can manage on our own? Can working out, getting more sleep and being more organized help or do we need something more? Therapy and medication are tools and just like using a shovel makes a hole a lot faster than just using our hands to dig, therapy and medication can help us manage our anxiety better and often long term. It isn’t a quick or easy fix, it can take time to find a therapist that clicks with you and a medication that works well, but when you find the right combination that works and your anxiety isn’t always clamoring for your attention, it is time and money well spent.

Are You Letting Yourself Be Led By Fear Or By Love-Michael (Tick Tick Boom)

Remember, even the people that look like they have it all figured out often don’t. We are all constantly trying to live life better, if that wasn’t true there would not be such a successful self help category of literature and tv shows dedicated to help us take charge of our lives and live our life in a better, healthier, more organized fashion. Sometimes it is just about letting it all go, allowing yourself time to rest, reset, to turn off your phone and unplug. Even superheroes have sidekicks, so whenever you need a little support, you know where we are at.

You are all doing amazing, we are all learning as we go and everyone is looking at each other thinking they must be doing it right, while we are doing it all wrong. Just remember, it is all about perspective.

As always, we thank you for allowing us to be a part of your life and a part of your journey.

Wishing you all the best,
Team SG