I feel like this post is going to come across a little tongue in cheek but I think after the 18 months we’ve all had, with so many of our lives being thrown out of whack, up in the air, around the bend and back again, these small and simple suggestions I’m going to share in this post could genuinely make a whole world of difference to someone.
During most of my 20’s, I’ve felt like my life has been in disarray.
Yes, I’ve been healthy. I’ve had a roof over my head. I’ve had two parents who helped me. I ended up with a great boyfriend. Have a cute dog. And now have a job that I adore and make a very decent income from. It all sounds great from the outside.
But from the age of 20, when I first developed my anxiety disorder which left me with no money, no job, no friends, no independence, no prospects and potentially no future, well things looked very different back then.
My life was spent in one room for a number of months. For years, it was spent in a suffocating fog of anxiety. For almost a decade, it was spent wondering whether I’ll ever have a “normal” life, free of anxiety, with a future ahead of me.
Spoiler alert, I’m now in an extremely good place with my anxiety (being officially anxiety disorder free since December 2019) but for a huge chunk of my 20’s, I didn’t have my life together at all. Not even close. I couldn’t function with being an adult, period.
So I had to lean in to those really small things which helped me feel a little bit more human. And something as small as some of the things mentioned in the below list was enough for me to just feel okay and like I can manage a little bit better. Even just for a second.
And I think a lot of people have felt that way over the last 18 months as well. It doesn’t matter whether it’s an anxiety disorder or a global pandemic, we will all have periods where we feel like our lives are all over the place.
It’s nothing to be ashamed about. It’s perfectly normal. And it happens to the best of us. But I’m here as your humble guide today to share with you 33 super easy suggestions of things you can do when you need to feel like your life is together (even if it’s not).
33 small and easy ways to feel like you have your life together:
- Make your bed in the morning
- Own a plant (and keep it alive)
- Keep a journal (and maybe try some journal prompts)
- Buy an expensive candle every now and again
- Drink the correct wine with the correct meat
- Have a signature perfume
- Keep up to date with your medical appointments (like your cervical screenings)
- Learn to say no when you need to
- Stop comparing your timeline to others
- Get your nails done
- Keep a finance spreadsheet of your incomings and outgoings
- Buy bird feed for the wildlife in your garden
- Use all your best lotions and creams whilst having a bath
- Grow your own vegetables
33 small and easy ways to feel like you have your life together continued:
- Reply to all your emails
- Finish that book you started reading
- Wash your make-up brushes
- Cleanse your crystals
- De-clutter your phone, laptop and tablet
- Dress up smart and go on a solo coffee date
- Prepare a meal from scratch
- Update your calendar for the next 6 months
- De-clutter your wardrobe of anything that doesn’t fit
- Take your car for a service or MOT
- Wake up a little earlier and practice a morning routine
- Cancel all your unused subscriptions
- Clean your windows
- Donate unwanted items to charity
- Get a hair cut
- Do a full skincare routine morning and night
- Buy yourself some flowers
- Eat a healthy meal
- De-clutter your Facebook friends list
Of course these suggestions won’t fix anything but they are handy to keep in your back pocket for those times when you feel really overwhelmed and scattered with no idea what to do or where to turn next. Remember, there’s always SOMETHING you can do. And even if it seems irrelevant to someone else, as long as it matters to you, that’s all that’s important. Even if it is something as small as getting your nails done, just so you can feel a bit more put-together.
[…] the next time you come to de-clutter your space. De-cluttering can really help you feel like you have your life together; mentally and physically. It can free up a lot of physical and mental space so it’s always […]
I love this list…it’s so perfect for when things feel overwhelming! Just reading this list has helped me to re-center myself and take small steps on a day when I feel like everything is out of control! Thanks for sharing.
Ah I’m so glad to hear that!
Such a great post, Jenny! I totally feel ya! Especially with the stress of social media and people only really sharing their good news. It gets tough sometimes. I love doing little things and celebrating the small victories everyday. Thanks for sharing x
Lynn | https://www.lynnmumbingmejia.com
I agree, it’s hard to see everyone share their big moments but it’s important to remember that the little things matter too!
I think this is a good list with some practical ideas on it! I suffer from some intense anxiety and am trying to get a handle on it. I think I know the root cause of most of mine currently. I find that doing yoga, walking, drinking more water, eating healthy food, keeping track of my expenses, journaling, keeping a calendar, going to community events, and remembering to pay my bills on time really helps me feel less crazy when I’m stressed out about the little things. Hoping everything in my life will settle down soon though.
Glad you’ve found those small things to really help you!
This is such a fun list! I think that making your bed every morning is a really great way to always feel a little better, too.
Thank you x
I meditate. I repeat a mantra that will make me feel comfortable or help me pull through the anxiety. I’m glad you managed to pull through the anxiety disorder. You’re a champion 🥳
Thank you 🙂
This is a great list and I’m happy that I do quite a lot of these. Little things like these really do help you feel in control of things x
Thank you, they really do help!
Great post. Learn to say no is the best thing to learn.
Thank yo.
Agree!
Oh this was such a great list! Over the last couple of weeks, I’ve definitely been trying to get my head back in the game and figure out how to feel back on track, and there’s some great suggestions here. Some might be more of a long term one but others I’m off to do right now. Thanks!
Thank you, absolutely! Having those long term and short term things to do is always the best!
These are really good! I’ve always wanted to grow my own vegetables, but I live in an apartment, so I’m still figuring that out!
I’m sure there’s a way! Lisa’s Notebook (blog & Twitter) might be able to help you!
Thanks! I’ll check out her blog!
Great post – making my bed a must. I also feel like I’m successfully doing life when I book a dentist appointment ha
Hahaha yes! When I book an eye appointment or a smear test I really think I have my life all sorted
Great post, Jenny! I definitely find celebrating the little things helps my mental health if I’m in a bit of a low period xx
Oh for sure, same here!
Great post. Its those small things that we never really think about but they all add up. As I was reading through the list there were a few things that I knew I hadn’t done in a while so its kind of motivated me to get them done too.
Awh I’m glad to hear that!
This is pretty relatable. And what I needed to read atm. I did have a haircut recently 🙂 loved almost all of your suggestion. Would try to incorporate as much as I can.
Thank you 🙂 x
My mom got me a signature perfume a couple weeks ago. I didn’t get to choose it but love the scent! She got me a roll on and a spray bottle so it’s my go-to perfume now and I really have no excuses for not wearing it!
I’m going to start making my bed. I haven’t been doing this and agree that it’s the simple things like making your bed with can dictate your day.
Oooh what perfume is it? 🙂
L’Occitane en Provence, with green tea. It smells so good!
Awesome post!! But then, you have so many awesome posts! Great tips!
Awh Linda you always flatter me!
Learning to say no is big one for me. Thanks for sharing. Now I want to take a bath and paint my nails.
Do it! Dedicate some time for it this weekend 🙂
Awesome! Love these tips. Thanks for sharing 👌🏼
Thank you 🙂
Great tips, Jenny! Making my bed every morning, looking after and painting my nails, and keeping a journal definitely help me when I feel like I need to get it together 🙂
Definitely! It’s the little things 🙂
Loving all these ideas 😍 I feel like I need to go and do them all right now…so many emails I need to figure out the right response too! xx
Haha! One at a time ;), you got this!
Yesss to all these ! I love that you have making your bed as the first one because I couldn’t agree more. Making my bed first thing in the morning always helps me to start my day feeling good ! And then of course staying organized with weekly planners, to do lists & all that !
Just need to work on budgeting now instead of online shopping always, haha !
Great post as always Jenny !
Hahah but don’t forget to treat yourself too 😉
These are great ideas, and I agree them! Making your bed is a must, and keeping up to date with medical appointments is one of the things I always drop when I’m overwhelmed- but it’s one of the most important things to remember. I am a bit of a plan killer though, I have to admit… x
Oh for sure, I do sometimes too. Or if I’m in a bad mental space, physical appointments are usually the first thing to drop off the radar, sadly!
Simple comforts. Nice article.
I agree that it is the small things that make a difference. Great suggestions.!
Thank you 🙂
Really love this post! I needed to read this as I really don’t feel like I’ve got my life together at the moment ahah. I seriously need to learn to say no, it’s so hard but it’s something I’m working on slowly. Thank you for sharing this lovely Xo
Elle – ellegracedeveson.com
It is definitely hard. Try just once for something small and see how it goes and build from there!