You know that inner chatter that just won’t stop? That noise that is naggingly reminding you that you have a lot of things to do all the time. I notice it the most when I sit down to take a break or do something for myself. It’s exhausting. Lately I’ve been exploring it a bit more and these are some things I’ve found.
MAKE TIME FOR THE JOYFUL THINGS.
There are like a thousand things I want to do with my life. And like a thousand hobbies I plan on learning to do. I want to grow old with my hobbies. Like throwing clay on a pottery wheel and making whatever the hell I feel like. Getting published in magazines and books. Growing a garden that allows me to be self-sustaining. Building a community that feels like home. Making art for absolutely no reason at all, and so so much more.
I have a clear vision of what that looks like but for some reason when I dedicate time to these joyful things I feel incredibly guilty. As if I should be doing something more productive with my time. The inner chatter rears its ugly head and it turns from joyful to stressful. I’m working on changing that mindset by making time for joy. It’s a process to build the life you want, and practice makes perfect, right?
ORGANIZE, ORGANIZE, ORGANIZE
Organization is key. When I haven’t planned out my day or organized my thoughts, it sets a stressful tone for the rest of the day. Lack of organization is guaranteed chaos in my brain and that brings out the inner chatter. I’m definitely not perfect at keeping organized, but I make time for it
I DRINK TEA
Of course I drink tea. After all, this is The Tea Tramp. But really, focusing on tea eliminates that inner chatter. For me it’s tea. But it can be anything that allows you to fully focus. Anything that gets you “in the zone”.
In a way, tea for me is a form of meditation. It allows me to just exist without the pressures and deep thoughts. I get to taste and breathe and experience. There are very few other things that grant me that opportunity. It’s wonderful.