It’s a new decade…a new year…a new day…a chance to start over! The New Year is chock full of fresh possibilities! Right? So let’s talk about how to stop feeling overwhelmed by the New Year hype and hoopla!
New Year, New You
Let me ask you something…Are you over it already?
I’m talking about the New Year!
It is truly amazing how much power we give to the flip of the calendar page between December 31st and January 1st.
Trust me, I will be the first to say I was more than ready to close the books on and kiss 2019 buh-bye!
LOTS OF HARD & HEARTACHE for me and my family in 2019.
But, that readiness to move forward was also accompanied by some self- inflicted PRESSURE to make 2020 like the most EPIC YEAR EVER!!!
Can you relate?
The pressure really started to get to me. It was messing with my heart and mind! I was in a tangled twist FOR SURE!
What began as excitement for the new year quickly morphed into OVERWHELM!
The feeling was icky and gross and I had to figure out how to stop feeling overwhelmed by the new year in a hurry!
Where Does New Year Overwhelm Come From?
I HATE OVERWHELM!
It is such a THIEF & JOY CRUSHER!
I could feel old tendencies boiling up; attempting to rise to the surface and join the party in 2020!
My mind was like a salad bar or buffet of:
-Limiting thoughts and beliefs…
-The Comparison trap…
-The temptation to say yes even though I wanted to say no…
-Pressures to do “this” not “that”…
-Join here…volunteer there…
-Buy this…Wear this…Don’t be caught dead in that!…
-Expectations (Mine and others)
I began to feel like my life was turning into an episode of the Extreme Home Makeover show…except it wasn’t a home in need of a makeover…it was my LIFE!
NOT the way I envisioned kick starting the new decade!
Maybe you felt that way too?
I set out bound and determined to figure out how to stop feeling overwhelmed by life and the new year!
What to do When Gross Overwhelm Creeps In
So, after having a temper tantrum, I decided to take a step back and slow my roll!
Just like we tell our kiddos to “count to 10” and take some cleansing deep breaths…I decided to take my own advice (for a change) and I took a much needed PAUSE!
That PAUSE was so simple, yet transformational!
How I Stopped Feeling Overwhelmed by the New Year
Get quiet and be still.
I went to the Lord in prayer. Instead of having conversations with the world and all the competing voices grappling for my attention, I turned to the ONE who held my life in the palm of his hand.
Instead of doing all the talking (which I love to do!) I decided to SHUT UP for a change and open my ears to a God that is just waiting to speak! Sometimes, we are so busy talking and trying to “figure it out” on our own that we are too loud to hear that still, small voice inside, trying to get our attention!
Go back to the basics
After coming out of a bone crushing year of loss, heartache, pain, deep grief and transition, I realized my need to simplify my life!
I did not have the bandwidth for crazy, overzealous plans and confusing chaos.
I needed to strip back all the layers and return to my life’s non-negotiables for my mind, body and spirit.
Life Saving Non-Negotiables to Stop Overwhelm in it’s Tracks
This is not an exhaustive list but something to work with as we move through and figure out how to stop feeling overwhelmed by the New Year.
–Quiet time with God through prayer
Related Post: 15 Scripture Verses to Fight Caregiver Overwhelm
-Make expressing gratitude a priority
-Exercise or consistent body movement
-Drinking enough water
-Take time to breathe (might seem silly but it is so helpful)
-8 hours of sleep
-Spending time outdoors
-Doing meaningful work
-Quality time with those that I love the most
-Carefully consider my “YESes” and my “NOs”
What are those things for you?
If you don’t know, I would HIGHLY RECOMMEND spending some time TODAY figuring it out for yourself!
Hindsight:
It was really important for me to reflect on all of the things that happened over the last 365 days. When I began to take a trip down memory lane of 2019, I realized I experienced a lifetime in one short year.
*My mom suffered two debilitating seizures that eventually led to her passing from Glioblastoma brain cancer.
*I faithfully ushered my mom into eternity while holding her hand and hanging on her every breath.
*I became a daughter, without a Mom here on Earth
*I was no longer a caregiver for my Mom which was one of my life’s largest identifying roles.
*My life no longer looked like my own. Everything has changed.
*I’m grieving the physical loss of my Mom and my life, the way it used to be.
Related Post: What Grief Looks Like After My Mom Died
I wanted to look back to know where I have been so I know where I want to go moving forward.
Taking time to review what had happened, gave me some deep insights into my thoughts, feelings and actions and provided me with the opportunity to ask God for some clarity on what to bring forward into 2020 and what to leave behind.
Hindsight can be a beautiful thing as long as we view it through the lens of the Lord. He wants to grow us and ultimately transform us, however he does NOT want us to wallow in the mud, muck and mire of our past.
We can “woulda, shoulda, coulda” our lives away.
That is NOT the Lord’s best for my life or yours!
Extend Grace To Stop Overwhelm
We must extend grace to ourselves and others. In my time with the Lord, He reminded me about this precious gift of unmerited favor that he extends to all Believers. It has no limits or expiration date. Because of Jesus’ finishing work of the cross, we have fresh grace and new mercies every.single.morning to do whatever the next best thing is that he is calling us to!
THAT IS THE BEST NEWS!
Don’t Let Overwhelm Hold You Back From God’s Best for Your Life
No matter what has happened in your past or is currently happening in your present, my hope is for you to experience the radical love and limitless grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
You may feel stuck in the mud of 2019 but God did not intend for us to be held captive by our past mistakes, circumstances or regrets.
Related Post: How to Create Momentum When You Feel Stuck
We must learn from our past and ask for godly wisdom and discernment for how the Lord wants us to Pray and Pedal On.
As we approach this new year and new decade, I pray for fresh godly perspective to fall fresh upon you and your lives. May he meet you in the middle of your mess or in the mundane and do a mighty work in your life this year!
Related Post: How to Make the Mundane Middle Meaningful
It is my prayer that the Lord will use you and what you are going through or have been through for his glory and for Kingdom advancement!
Today is a gift, don’t waste it trying to keep up with the world!
Look to the Lord for your direction for this new year and I have a sneaky suspicion…
If you get out of your own way and put God back in the Godseat of your life, he will take you from where you are to where he desires you to be!
I totally can relate to what you’ve shared here—and I too took a rest very similar. In fact, I’ve been taking January off for the past few years and it’s been the best resolution I’ve made and kept! Thank you for encouraging us to do that too!
As I told you previously, I LOVE your idea of taking January “off.” I think it is an awesome way to rest, refresh and reboot our minds, bodies and spirits!