Sometimes life feels messy.
We don’t feel like ourselves. We don’t feel like there’s consistency. We don’t feel like there’s certainty.
And there are so many reasons we can feel like this, both good and bad.
A new job. A new place to live. Moving cities. Moving countries. Travel. A breakup. A fall out. Gaining weight. Losing weight. New goals. New friends. The end of an era. The beginning of a new one.
These things make our lives feel messy because they disrupt our routines.
We spend a lot of time and and a lot of money trying to escape the mundane and predictable. And yet it’s the mundane and predictable that keeps us sane – it anchors us when everything around us is changing.
If you’ve ever changed jobs then you’ll probably know the ‘messy’ feeling I’m talking about.
The new job forces you to change certain parts of your routine – maybe you have to wake up at a different time, maybe you can’t go to your gym any more because of your new hours or new location, you might have to dress differently or act differently and you’re so busy concentrating on not screwing it all up that you decide you’ll just let everything else slide for a few weeks (while you get settled) and then it takes at least a few months to get it all back.
And you’ll definitely know the feeling if you’ve travelled for more than a couple of weeks at once.
Constantly moving, constantly waiting. Packing and unpacking. Different meals, different time zones, different languages. It’s exciting but life feels messy, and it can only go on for so long before you start craving routine.
That messy feeling isn’t easy to get rid of.
We make perfect plans to get our lives back on track and come up against obstacles – whether they’re self-made excuses or otherwise. But I’ve found that keeping little things the same everyday is a really good way to start getting that sense of routine (and togetherness) back.
Below are 5 things I like to do when life feels messy. I don’t do them all at once mind you – I just pick a couple and try to do them as consistently as I can.
1. I make my bed
I’ve talked about the power of making my bed before. It’s probably the easiest way to start that sense of routine and I can do it anywhere in the world (except if my boyfriend is still in bed asleep). I don’t make the bed perfectly but I make it well enough that it gives me a sense of accomplishment and familiarity and that’s the point.
2. I take something off my plate
Ok so this can be hard, but I find that making an effort to do less really goes a long way when it comes to getting rid of that messy feeling.
I definitely have a tendency to commit to too many things and sometimes when life’s feeling messy I think I have to add something new to make it all better – a new workout, a new hobby, a new habit (like meditation).
But I’ve found that taking something away is better than adding something new, especially when there’s a lot of change happening in every other area of my life.
Less is more as they say.
3. I find a way to sweat
I find I start to go a little stir crazy if I don’t exercise. That doesn’t mean I feel like exercising when life feels messy, but I know it’ll help snap me out of my slump more quickly than almost anything else.
It doesn’t need to be anything crazy, I just need to get my heart rate up and sweat. Sometimes it takes a big pep talk to get myself to the gym, or even just to get myself on my bedroom floor doing a Blogilates video. But whenever I decide to just bite the bullet and do it that sense of togetherness always starts to come back, and i can’t argue with that.
My favourite exercises for this type of thing are Blogilates videos or HIIT training on the treadmill (if I need something a little more intense to get myself back on track).
Maybe you’re not the kind of person that needs to sweat every day. That’s ok, onto the next one.
4. I eat the same thing for breakfast
I kind of do this anyway because I LOVE what I have for breakfast (muesli/porridge and fruit) but when I’m travelling or when there’s a lot of change in my life I try to make the effort to keep my breakfast consistent.
When life feels messy, pick something you love for breakfast and stick with it.
5. Hugging
Hugging helps everything. And so does spooning.
I know there are all those studies that link hugging with happiness and I believe them 100%.
What do you think?
Do you ever get that messy feeling? And how do you get rid of it?
Let me know in the comments below!
Sam xx
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This is a great post! It’s definitely important for me to have some consistency in my day- Currently I’m trying to get myself used to waking up at the same time. I’m hoping that by doing that, I’ll find a daily routine I can stick to 🙂
Thanks for sharing 🙂
http://www.lindseyginge.com
Hey Elyse!
So true – getting up at the same time everyday really helps with creating routine and getting your life back together! I think also that if you wake up at the same time everyday then you’re likely to do the same things almost automatically after you wake up, but if you wake up at different times you’ll do different things depending on what time of day it is.
Sam xx
We have all been there, and if people say they haven’t well I want to know their secret. Having a routine and eating a good breakfast always breaks the mess for me!
Chelsey | http://www.chelseythornton.com
Haha so true Chelsey – I think everyone goes through this no matter where they’re at in life! Having a good breakfast is my favourite 🙂
Sam xx
Really nice things to do when you are in a rut♥
summerdaisy.net
Thanks Summer!
Sam xx
I love this! And i’m totally with you on the hugging!
makeupbyhollymei.com
theanomalie.com
Thanks so much Holly! Hugging is the best 🙂 At the moment I’m travelling with two friends and we’ve decided to do daily hugs since we realised that we were all going without a single hug in the day – it’s so good!
Sam xx
That’s such a lovely post. Thank you so much for sharing <3
Love, Kerstin
http://www.missgetaway.com/
Thanks Kerstin! Xx
I know the feeling! Great tips to get rid of it too. What I do as well is, look through my to-do list and focus on that. Then ticking things off makes me feel a lot more tidy lol.
– GIVEAWAY! – http://www.veebzboo.com/veebz-boo-com-birthday-plus-giveaway
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Getting through a to-do list is another good way to get rid of that feeling – it can really help create that sense of routine and predictability again! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Sam xx
Awesome tips! I agree on working out! It also takes away stress! and OMG i need my favorite sunny side up eggs + fried rice in the morning too! I can eat them every breakfast, srsly. First time here! <3
Hey Larni 🙂
Yes working out is so so good for getting out of a rut and for taking away stress!
Sam xx
I know this messy feeling oh so well and I hate it! Taking time out to tidy up usually helps me, and taking something off my to do list as well, just as you suggest. That’s hard for me to do too but it’s better to do a few things well than a lot of things badly! x
Kate Louise Blogs
Hey Kate!
Ooh yeah that’s such a good one, I forgot how good tidying up can be. I guess it’s kind of like making my bed but better – I always feel like a mess when my room is messy and it always only takes 10 minutes to clean it (when I put it off I always seem to think it’s going to take AGES). So worth doing!
Sam xx
Just discovered your blog and I love it so much! Great Sunday reading, even though I’m not quite 20 yet. Whenever I feel overwhelmed I de-stress by making a list of things I need to do and prioritizing them so I can make the most of the time I have!
http://www.BeautyFromKatie.blogspot.com
Hey Katie!
Thanks so much for saying that about my blog, I really appreciate it (and I was having almost all of these problems before I was 20 as well haha). Prioritising things is such a good way to get routine back – when you don’t prioritise it’s easy to just do what is urgent instead of the important stuff, like exercise.
Thanks again!
Sam xx
Yes. I know this feeling and it sucks. When I feel like this it usually means it’s time for me to step back and removing something from my plate. Not that long ago one of my aunts told me it’s okay to not do it all. Be productive not busy. I’m a bit of a workaholic and I’m realizing I have to let go. When I do too much I feel messy. Also, when I get this feeling I have to reevaluate some things in my life. I agree: Less is more!
Hey!
Yes taking a step back is a really good way to get back on track! And that sounds like such good advice from your aunt – it’s so easy to get caught up in being busy and I think a lot of the time I feel really busy I’m not actually being that productive, I’m just trying to do so many different things (a lot of which aren’t really that important). Great advice!
Sam xx
When my life feels messy I always try to take something off my plate. That way I get more tme to do the things I actually love and enjoy to day which often makes my life feels less messy and makes me more relaxed 🙂
http://www.thesparklingdarling.com
Hey Heidi!
Thanks so much for your comment 🙂 That’s definitely why taking something off my plate is so good – it leaves me more time to do the things I actually enjoy doing! Relaxing definitely helps
Sam xx
Completely agree with all of these. Especially hugging. Hugging definitely erases a lot of the stress at least temporarily! I always try to make my bed too! It definitely feels good and it looks better when I come home!
prettyneutral.com
Yes hugging is so good for stress! And just for feeling nice haha
Sam xx
Making my bed is my go to whenever my life gets a bit messy!
Aleksanna | http://aleksannax.blogspot.de
Glad I’m not the only one! I find it can be quite easy to get out of the habit so I always try to make the effort to do it, especially when I don’t feel like it haha it’s not always easy!
Sam xx
I loved this!
You shared some really great tips. Thanks for sharing. 🙂
Jes | http://jesandbleu.com
Thanks so much Jes!
Sam xx
Sitting down with a cup of tea, taking a deep breath and saying to yourself- everything happens for a reason and if today is not a good day tomorrow it will be. Always works!
http://www.hairwonderfulday.weebly.com
Thanks for sharing that 🙂 sitting down with a cup of tea is always a good idea haha
Sam xx
I definitely agree with making your bed. I’ve never understood why but it just clears my head instantly.
Yes it’s so good! It’s hard to know why it’s so good but so many people swear by it 🙂
Sam xx
i definitely get that feeling from time to time, great tips!
http://www.avecdanielle.com
Thanks Danielle!
Sam xx
I know the messy feeling! Loved your tips, especially making my bed. Once I’ve done that I definitely feel more ready to get on with my day for some reason.
– http://www.veebzboo.com
– http://www.youtube.com/veebzboo – FASHION HAUL
Yes making your bed is the best!
Sam xx
I’m in that messy feeling right now- just left a job that I hated, and now I’ve got all this time on my hands- time I was wishing I had while I was working 60+ hours a week! So, I’ve decided to embrace it! The key is to try not to worry about money (eek), and do something fulfilling while you wait for your next move to present itself (it will!) I’m working on my blog full time right now, and who knows where it may lead!
-Erin
http://www.erinhughesstylist.com/lastlooksblog/
Hey Erin
It’s so funny how that works isn’t it – when you’re working you just have all the free time in the world and then when you finally have it It’s so easy to be unproductive and lazy. That’s amazing and so exciting that you’re working full-time on your blog 🙂
Sam xx
Wow! You are blog is amazing, i wish i could know about it earlier. Also lovely personality. 🙂
[my blog] http://www.davidtofie.com
Thanks so much David!
This post could not have come at a better time. I have just changed shifts at work 11 -7 to 7-7 and even though I love the extra day off, I am so out of routine. I have stopped exercising, my diet is getting worse and I am tired. Yoga class once a week has been helping but this post was just the push I need to get moving. Winter makes me feel like being lazy so I often get like this anyway. I feel stressed. Familiarity and accomplishment are so important to happiness.
http://www.sarahnity.com
Hey Sarah
Thanks so much for your comment! Familiarity and accomplishment are so important, and even though we like to dream about having no responsibility and doing what ever the hell we want but I think we’d get tired of it pretty quickly! And yeah having someone in the bed doesn’t really work with that one haha
Sam xx
This post hit jackpot! I feel that I am in a messy state right now but unlike before I’ve pretty much learned how to enjoy and work with it. Great tips too and I totally agree about that part on making your bed!
http://www.annescribblesanddoodles.blogspot.com
So glad you liked it Anne and that’s so good that you’ve learned how to work with it!
Sam xx
Love this post! Such a great idea, contants in a world of changes does make a difference.
Much love, Fi xx http://ilovetosaywhatever.blogspot.ie/
Hey Fi
Thanks so much, I’m glad you liked it!
Sam x
Great post! Such great ideas. So much so it’s I’ve put it in my bookmarks as I know it will come in handy!
http://itslolll.blogspot.co.uk
xx
Thanks so much Loriana! I’d love to hear what you find works for you 🙂
Sam xx
This post has some really great tips 🙂 loved it!
http://gingersnaphattie.blogspot.co.uk
xoxo
Thanks so much!
Sam xx
These are really good tips! I have just started a new quarter at school, and these sound like they might help me de-stress! I will try them for sure!
Thanks for sharing 🙂
Xoxo
Tawni | http://www.tawnitamarra.com/
Great tips! I really don’t like excercising but i feel so much better (less tired, less stressed, more energy) when i make myself go for a 20 min walk every workday. I also find tidying my house makes me feel sooo much more in control. Nothing makes your life feel messy like real messy! Clutter makes me edgy lol
We are loving these tips, especially making our bed, such a simple task but it really helps clear our minds! Thanks for sharing!
ISA Professional
I get that messy feeling anytime I go home from college! While I love getting to spend time with my family, my routine is all messed up! Eating the same thing for breakfast helps me too and it’s almost the same as you: oatmeal with fruit! These are great tips and I’ll definitely be referring to them anytime life gets messy! http://carleehebert.com/