I live a loud life.
I have two kids who seem to think they'll get bonus points for making the most noise.
Although I have my own office, when my door is opened I hear my teammates; they conduct telephone exit interviews.
When I drive I listen to podcasts or music.
My side business revolves around being paid to speak, for goodness' sake.
I'm not quiet very often. There's a reasonable chance you aren't either.
Yet there's something magical about transforming a noisy life into a quiet one, even if just for a few hours. This weekend I set out to do just that. I had been feeling completely overwhelmed (honestly, I was miserable) and I realized I just needed some downtime to get myself back on track.
Need to quiet the noise in your life and the noise in your brain? Here's what worked for me.
Actively choose quiet. After dinner on Friday night, I opted out of a movie or other interaction and got into bed, without technology or background music. I made a conscious decision to disconnect. I read. And I slept.
Write it down. Inevitably worries, concerns and to-dos made their way into my brain. I wrote in my journal and made lists. That helped me quiet my mind without actually addressing the items at the moment.
Turn off social media. Friday morning I moved Facebook to a different folder on my home screen and removed the bookmark on my laptop. Wow, the peace that comes from not seeing what everyone else is doing! I also rarely checked my phone for texts or calls. Bliss!
Do one thing at a time. I had been so overwhelmed by so many challenges this summer, my default mode was multi-tasking (and then mistake-making). So this weekend I was purposeful; I was able to quiet the chatter in my brain because I really focused.
I like my noisy life. But I need a break from it at times. And so do you.
Be quiet.
Photo by Mink Mingle on Unsplash