Cup of Inspiration

Today, November 9^th, we accept the fact that the chaos of the world will always be there. It is important to remember we can only control what we can control.

There just never seems to be enough hours in a day. From the time we wake up in the morning, we may find ourselves flying from one task to another to get our families and ourselves ready for the day. Packing lunches in a hurry, remembering where you laid your phone, putting together everything you’ll need for the workday, plus helping your loved ones getting ready for school or work, are just a few tasks to get through, and that’s just the start of the day. Throughout the day there are the meetings, errands, tackling that to-do list while dealing with any ad-hoc requests that come up through the afternoon. Once you get home, you have a meal to put on the table, perhaps trying to finish early so you can make it to another obligation scheduled for that evening. Whew, is it time for bed yet?

Chaos will always be there. However, it is important to first look at what we can control. There are tools we can use to help plan our day. For me, I still enjoy my Franklin planner to help bring both my personal and professional obligations into one place. We also have other wonderful tools, such as Outlook, Google calendars, and other planning applications which can give you a visual of what you have scheduled and when. Perhaps this daily visual can help you reassess what you agree to attend and what you decline.

Controlling at least some of the chaos in our lives may come in small measures but are nevertheless very impactful. A simple meal planner to help shave off some time in deciding what to cook. A simple budget tracker that can help you see immediately where you are financially, providing some peace of mind rather than uncertainty. Saying no to that one weekly obligation can give you an extra hour each week to enjoy time with your family or just relish a quiet hour with a cup of tea and a good book. Any chance to shave off time while performing various tasks does add up. Instead of adding on more obligations with this additional time, remember to take some time for yourself.

Today, for Chaos Never Dies Day, reflect on what you can control, remembering that you can’t control everything. While looking at your plan for the day, make sure you carve out an hour for yourself to enjoy some fresh air, some calm music, and perhaps a little treat to reward yourself for all your hard work this week. Relish a little time away from the chaos in life.