Garance Galore

At times, life can feel like a bumpy ride with ups and downs, making me feel like I’m drawing in responsibilities. On these days, it’s hard to keep on going because I am simply not feeling well : I’m tired, so the house gets messy, I neglect the laundry for too long, and things keep getting worse and worse to the point where it seems impossible to get things back in order. But, *spoiler*, there are solutions !

I am not writing this post to tell you that you should not deal with your emotions or to urge you to keep a perfect-looking life even when you feel at your lowest. What I am saying is that these small methods help me not feel overwhelmed at the first inconvenience. Call it your emergency protocol for critical or busy seasons! 

Have something to look forward to 

When bad things happen or when the routine is routining, it can be hard to see the days pass, one by one, without having anything to look forward to.

I believe that humans need purpose, and your purpose in the short term does not have to be something out of this world; something as simple as a new knitting project, a trip to another city, a romantic night out, or a movie night with your partner can help you look at life differently.

Take initiative, invite your friends, say yes to invitations, start a new project, learn a new language, or pour yourself into something you like.

Making sure you have something to look forward to can also look like a cake that’s waiting for you in the fridge on a Tuesday night (yes, I love cakes). It’s all about finding a reason (no matter how small) to smile throughout the day. So, what are your plans for tonight? 

Make a new playlist 

You might think, ‘Ok, Garance, music is not going to fix anything in my life’, and you are probably right, BUT I do believe that music has power over our mood and thoughts, and spending time listening to music can help a lot. It did help me go through the darkest times of my life (okay, I’m being just a little dramatic, but you get the idea). Sitting down on my laptop or laying on the couch and creating a playlist will always be a comforting moment for me. I love it!

This could be because I just love music, but it also feels like a break from the world and a time to get nostalgic, emotional, or encouraged.

Use a calendar 

I personally could not function properly without a calendar! I use Google Calendar because I find it so convenient and practical, but you can use whatever calendar you prefer. When you are feeling stressed out, what you need is organization! I’ve said this before, but I will keep saying it again and again.

I absolutely love to sit and have a clear look at the coming weeks ahead of me. It helps me feel less messy and less stressed out – No surprises! Because there is no worse feeling than realizing you missed an appointment or remembering that tomorrow is your best friend’s birthday.

Ultimelety, it all depends on how busy you are, but personally, with two jobs, university classes, and my social life, this is more than necessary to stay sane. 

When I feel like life is getting out of control, sitting down for 30 minutes to update my Google Calendar and listen to my favorite playlists just feels like the most peaceful thing in the world. Highly recommended! 

Build small habits

This point might be the most life-changing tip for me! I will be referring mostly to housework because I cannot thrive in a messy and/or cluttered home, but you can really apply it to any area of your life.

Implementing small habits like putting the kitchen to bed and taking an extra 10 minutes to leave things neat behind you will prevent so much buildup and stress. I tend to be messy and then clean it up all once I’m already overwhelmed, but it would take me hours to get the house to look like I wanted it. Simply putting things away and doing small things immediately helped me keep a nice and decluttered environment. And it really does not take long; everything does not have to be sparkling clean. After all, our houses are to be lived in, not to look like an interior design catalog, but trying to maintain a certain standard of tidiness will definitely help. And remember, it’s better to do your best each day than go crazy for a whole afternoon, not rest, and end up exhausted for the next day. Protect and use your energy wisely! 

Speak to your partner 

Here, I will be talking to my fellow wives and husbands, who happily share a roof together. Having someone to come back to at the end of the day is a blessing.

Sharing my emotions and feelings with my husband when I come home and listening to what he has to say is an important part of our routine. I’m not always looking for solutions or comments, but simply putting words on my feelings helps.

And after a long day at work or at school, there truly is no place like home, especially when home is a person. 

Declutter 

Clutter in every area of our lives brings stress but I’m not saying that we should only own a few essential items and live in a white and beige house. I think a house is made to be lived in; therefore, we will collect small things that make our house a home, BUT some people might invite more mess into their houses than they realize, and it’s not a bad idea to sometimes go in a random drawer or room and think whether or not this item still has its place in your heart and home.

Take care of yourself

Last but definitely not least, take care of yourself! There are so many ways to do that; if you’re a skincare and bubble bath person, feel free to engage in this area !

But taking care of yourself could also mean sleeping, practicing a hobby that relaxes you, working out, or spending some quality time with your loved ones.

The list goes on and on, but simply try to remember that you are stuck in this body and mind, so take care of it! 

I hope you enjoyed today’s post. Stay well !

Garance xx