#Unsettled

The other day, I received the most beautiful compliment. A relatively new acquaintance, who follows my blog and group chat, told me how much she looks forward to my weekly updates and blogs. She’s a working single mom of three, committed to her children and their activities, all while trying to carve out time for herself. She said my messages were so uplifting, and she wanted to know how I’d found such a place of peace.

I was genuinely flattered. Knowing I’ve touched at least one person on this journey makes it all worth it. But I’ll let you in on a little secret: the peace I project doesn’t come easy.

It’s a daily, conscious struggle for me to carve out time. And it’s even harder to shed the guilt for taking that time. Honestly, it wasn’t until this year that I finally just let that guilt go. How can I truly be the best version of myself for my partner, children, friends, and family if I’m perpetually running on empty? If I’m not putting my needs first?

I used to squeeze in 20-minute power naps or 15-minute meditations when I could. Now, it’s an absolute must. I have to take time for myself every single day to reboot, to practice silence, to simply be still.

I’ve always had a go-go personality – constantly involved on committees, part of groups, planning the next family dinner. I ended up running on pure adrenaline and caffeine. What happens when that wears off? You crash. Hard. You become negative, irritable. You give in to the “noise” – which, in turn, dims your light and affects everyone around you. I still find myself on that cycle sometimes.

A few years ago, I was deep in that hamster wheel of being the over-committed mom. PTA, fundraising for every group, shuttling kids to endless activities, managing all family needs, trying to work, book clubs, maintaining a social life – you name it, I was part of it. It became so overwhelming that I had to jump off the wheel and retreat. I purposely stopped volunteering, closed my business for a while, and stayed home.

But even that didn’t fix it. My brain was still going. I was still listening to the noise: in my mind, in conversations with friends, from my kids’ activities, and especially on social media – that midnight scroll is addicting. I was still piling unnecessary burdens onto my plate.

It wasn’t until recently that I truly started to find that delicate balance between participating in “all the things” and, crucially, tuning out the noise. Separating yourself from the noise isn’t selfish; in fact, I believe it’s absolutely necessary to remain focused, maintain your energy, and accomplish what truly matters.

Now, my kids are in high school and college, and that comes with a whole new level of “noise.” It’s amazing watching how my three children each deal with it, and I often find myself learning from them.

• My eldest is very social and highly affected by others’ energy. He gets overwhelmed sometimes and often calls me to vent. He’s learned to safely get the noise out of his system, then goes to the gym to work the rest off.
• My middle son finds a quiet place outside and takes a few minutes to “reset” – something he’s done since he was a toddler on the playground. We talked about this the other day; he mentioned how, whenever he’s overwhelmed, he takes a few minutes to be outside, look at the sky or the water, and just be present. He’s grateful for where we live and embraces the fresh air. I’m constantly awed by his zen.
• My daughter, who often has the most noise surrounding her, has learned meditation and breathing exercises. She removes herself from the crowd, finds a quiet spot, and breathes.

I’ve taken a page from her book. Practicing breath work and meditation daily has become a lifeline for me.

My advice for staying balanced and finding your peace is this:

1. Find what works for YOU. A 5-minute meditation, a 15-minute walk, a quiet cup of tea.
2. Commit to it daily. Don’t feel guilty for taking even a few minutes for yourself.
3. Consciously stay away from the noise – both external distractions and internal chatter.
4. Practice radical self-love. Know that you are worth this time and peace.
5. Intentionally create balance: Look at your plate and consciously decide what to remove.

Because I promise you, there is nothing greater than finding your inner peace. It doesn’t mean life stops, but it means you navigate it from a place of quiet strength, rather than constant exhaustion. It means you can shine your light brighter for yourself, and for those you love

#TuneOutTheNoise #InnerPeace #SelfCare #UnSettled #Mindfulness #FindYourQuiet #GuiltFreeLiving #MomLifeBalance #DigitalDetox #ChoosePeace #PersonalGrowth #DailyRituals #Breathwork #OverwhelmedAndOverIt #BalancedLiving