How I Create Calm & Order In My Life

“To be calm is the highest achievement of the self.” – Zen Proverb.

One of the things I’ve constantly strived to achieve is a sense of calm and order in my life. Being organised is something which has innately been me. However, being more calm is something which has required practice and effort.

I’ve always admired those who are able to remain calm amongst chaos. Remaining calm irrespective of whether you are in the workplace, home or in any personal relationship is a huge competitive advantage. It is a skill, and a valuable one one at that.

In this article, I share the key practices I’ve put in place to create a sense of calm and order in my life.

1. MEDITATION & MINDFULNESS

Practicing meditation and mindfulness on a daily basis has had a significant impact on my state of mind. I spend the first 10-15 minutes of each day practicing gratitude and meditating via the headspace app.

I have a demanding and stressful job which often requires a level of strategic thinking and an element of ‘putting out fires’. By practicing mindfulness daily, I am able to make better decisions and remain more calm. I’m also better able to manage my emotions and consequently, maintain better relationships.

2. WORKING OUT

Working out is something which I have done for as long as I remember. It is part of my daily routine to the degree that I don’t even think about it – I just do it.

I work out 5 mornings per week at F45 training, and go for a walk in nature at least once per week. Working out is one of the biggest stress relievers for me. It acts as a release and helps me destress, decompress and start my day in a state of calm.

3. SELF-CARE

One of the ways in which I’m able to maintain calm in my life is to ensure I carve out the necessary time to self-care. Self-care for me can take many different forms:

• A coastal walk
• Sitting out in the sunshine
• Enjoying a leisurely coffee or tea
• Reading a good book
• Getting a massage
• Having my nails done
• Getting a blow-dry
• Time to myself whilst watching a movie or tv series
• Meditating
• Eating my favourite food
• A weekend away
• Spending time with people who feed my soul
• Relaxing at home with my favourite candles burning

I work long hours and incredibly hard from Monday through to Saturday, however I always ensure I carve out time on Sunday to self-care. This ensures I enter each new week feeling calm and refreshed.

4. WRITING TO-DO LISTS

There is something really powerful about putting pen to paper. I have always been big on writing to-do lists, and believe it is a good way of keeping ourselves accountable.

I spend some time on a Sunday preparing my to-do list and ensuring I capture all the projects and tasks I set out to achieve for the week. This list then gets broken down into daily, actionable items.

Writing to-do lists enables me to focus on being productive, rather than busy. It helps me to accomplish much more and helps me stay accountable to my goals and dreams.

4. PREPARING FOR THE WEEK

There are many things I do to get organised for the week, and you can read more about that in detail here. However, some of the practices I’ve put in place include:

• Writing a daily and weekly to-do list of all the things I set out to achieve.
• Cleaning my home, ensuring everything is in it’s place.
• Ensuring washing is done and clothes are put away.
• Grocery shopping for the week.
• Food prepping, ensuring that all my meals are cooked and / or prepared for the week.
• Laying out my outfit and gym clothes for the next day, the night before.

Ensuring these tasks are completed are some of the things I do to ensure every day week runs smoother.

HOW I CREATE CALM & ORDER IN MY LIFE

What are some of the practices you’ve put in place or would like to adopt to create more calm and order in your life? I would love to hear your thoughts, please leave your comments below.