Winter is in full bloom in New York yet I’m still very happy to be here. Just the other day I was in Puerto Rico for work, contemplating whether I should move abroad somewhere sunny near the water, and though nothing is really off the table for me, I know that I am in the right place at the right time now.
I’ve been melting into some sweet time off, refusing to fly anywhere else. It’s nice to feel as though I actually live in this great city and to enjoy the pleasantries of ordinary life — my own bed, in my little brick-walled room, taking the subway to different parts of the city, writing at my go-to coffee shop, and meeting with friends! Shout out to my supportive friend Ali, who just moved here and made my world a little brighter, too! 🙂
Traveling a ton and not really having an ordinary life (whatever that really means) has increased my gratitude for simplicities — but above all, for the sensation of being grounded in a place and in myself. Routine and familiarity can be really good for the soul. I think we just need to be aware of becoming complacent & overly comfortable with something that isn’t serving us. That is when we reassess & rearrange. Despite our trying though, life is always in flux, so we will eventually need to adapt ~ and that keeps things exciting.
As you might tell, themes of stability, grounding, and simplicity have been flowing through my mind lately. (My last newsletter was about revisiting core needs — check it out here if you haven’t read it).
Sometimes life gets complicated, our minds run wild, and worry and anxiety can take hold. For me, it often manifests as this sensation of “being all over the place.” When this happens, I’ve found it helpful to sink into some routines: journaling, exercise, cooking, and sleeping at consistent times, to name a few. They remind me to lean into the moment and into the day with steady ease. They ensure I am taken care of before tackling any tasks.
I’ve noticed that lot of my stress and anxiety comes from thinking “I’m not doing enough.” It’s the never-ending “to do list,” a large appetite for creative expression, and the drive to succeed and achieve that both inspires and drives me crazy.
I don’t want to lose the spark to create, but I also want to make life easier for myself, so I’m choosing to come into 2020 with some renewed simplicity.
I recently watched a video by Sorelle called “Work Less and Achieve More” which resonated and inspired me to share some insights with you. In the video she talks about how our society is obsessed with constantly “doing” and when we scale back and actually do less, we can create with more passion, and subsequently, more impact.
These are some ways you can scale back at the end of 2019 & into 2020 in order to support your physical and mental health and ultimately create more joy and impact with the work you do/make. Of course, feel free to create your own list and to adjust as needed 🙂
- When it comes to the “to do list”: remove the shit that you’re never going to do/ don’t really have to do. Just.Let.It.Go. Prioritize and set forth three main tasks for the day. If inspiration and creativity call, do that. Have fun.
- Prioritize what consistently makes you feel good. Pump your energy into it. For me it’s writing. Despite having interest in other things, like making videos, or podcasts — writing is just what feels most natural and cathartic to me, so that’ll come #1.
- Listen to your body. It knows what you need. Rest? Movement? Play? Nourishing food? It’ll let you know if you tune in.
- Before starting something new, ask yourself: “What is my intention behind doing this?” Is it out of joy, service, passion, or because it’ll make you feel more worthy and loved? Know that you are inherently loved/beautiful/complete/ beyond measure and nothing can make you any more or any less.
Let me know what you think and how you choose to simplify before 2020.
Freedom-Based Living 