Savouring simple daily pleasures

As we rapidly crank up towards end-of-year activities, Christmas festivities, and longed-for summer holidays, I'm fighting the inevitable overwhelm of there not being enough hours in the day, and constantly trying to keep one step ahead in my mind of the next task, engagement, appointment, commitment or whatever else is in the diary. Also, acutley aware that its only going to get busier for a couple of weeks!

I'm actively being mindful and remaining present, taking each task and day in bite-sized pieces. One thing at a time. And in the glorious distance- without wishing away the fun, family, and special Christmas cheer- is a blissful few weeks of summer at the beach.

I am finding that as our schedule gets fuller, if I don't consciously talk myself down and breathe, my mind races, my heart rate stays permanently elevated, and anxiety creeps up- resulting in feeling stressed, not sleeping properly, and that awful feeling of overwhelm. 

Today was a day I was grateful for another rainy Saturday- it seems to feel more justified to run errands, clean, and be more centered at home when it's drizzling. I'm not being called into the garden, or feeling I'm wasting the precious sun by being indoors more. Usually, I would still go for an afternoon walk for an hour or so- but as the rain is still steadily falling, and my body is showing signs of being a little rundown already, I have chosen to stay put. A good ol' power hour (Or two) of some household cleaning tasks interspersed with shopping for a birthday gift and an impromptu lunch out- and wrapping up my afternoon just as I stated my morning; Sitting under the shelter of the pergola, with one of the cats and the patter of rain and babbling of the stream as my background. The birds are still singing even though they must be rather damp, and I can see on a distant branch one characteristically plump and satisfying-looking Keruru (Native wood Pigeon). 

Maybe I should look more to the animals surrounding me- when its wet, they shelter, they doze and pass the day gently- once it dries up the cats and birds have far more energy, and are busy and active for many more hours. Its inbuilt in them, they understand without having to reflect like us. Granted they don't have the same commitments or to-do lists- nevertheless! 

I find in times like these, as the pressure and expectation of the festive season inevitably mount, taking little bite-size tasks, and chores, and trying to focus singularly on them until completed, is far more approachable then being bogged down with the enormity of the bigger picture.

WHen we returned from our longer-than-anticipated shopping trip and impromptu lunch, I was feeling a little flustered (Okay, a lot flustered) that the day was getting ahead of me, I hadn't got the house nice and clean as I'd wanted to - not just as it was needed but so as to be able to enjoy it over the weekend and delight in the tidy, fresh orderliness this evening. Once I'd made a start- and to my delight my husband also pitched in and took care of all the vacuuming (350+ M2!) I felt so much calmer, so much more in control and like I'd taken back my weekend. It seems silly, but just tackling something, making a start, acting not procrastinating, changes your mindset almost instantaneously. 

Now, I keep a pretty clean and orderly home. I have a regular cleaning schedule and attend to laundry tasks and such like daily. But in times of stress and over-packed schedules, I'll admit the first thing to slip is the home. I will always do the basics- the bathrooms are always clean, the laundry up to date and I never, ever leave dishes piling up or a messy kitchen- but deep cleaning tasks, or clutter hot spots, dusting, and more than a cursory vacuum with my stick Dyson is just about all I manage - and if this goes on for a few weeks at a time as it has recently, all of a sudden it's more than I can bear! 

The key is to take a breath, make a REALISTIC list, and make a start- however small. Often once you start one thing leads to another and you find you have a renewed zellor and vigor to accomplish it all. 

I now feel relaxed, and accomplished and am very much looking forward to preparing a simple meal, enjoying a hot bath, and climbing into my fresh linens early- ready to wake to a clean, orderly home, bright and fresh on Sunday.