Finding a sense of calm in a storm of crap.

Finding Calm in the Chaos of Life

Life has a way of piling up all at once. Especially on me. Bills, Deadlines, family responsibilities, social obligations, personal goals and that age old dog shit in the garden. it can feel like a whirlwind with no pause button. For a long time, I thought the only way to survive was to rush faster, do more, and push through the overwhelm. But I’ve learned that the key isn’t doing more it’s finding calm amidst the chaos but I’m not going to lie this has took a long time to learn.

At first, finding calm felt impossible. I’d wake up with a to-do list running through my mind and go to bed replaying every worry from the day before actually I wouldn’t even go to bed I’d fall sleep on the sofa.

There was never a quiet moment, never a break from the mental clutter. I realized that the chaos outside often reflects the shit storm inside. If my mind is restless, the world feels heavier; if my mind slows down, the world seems more manageable and it really does. It’s like a domino effect.

One of the first things that helped me was breathing deliberately. It sounds simple, almost trivial, but taking even a few minutes to focus on my breath makes a noticeable difference. I close my eyes, feel my chest rise and fall, and let myself be present in that single rhythm. Those few minutes become an anchor, a reminder that I can pause even when everything else is moving fast. If you’d told me I’d be doing that a few years ago I’d tell you to piss off but honestly it’s a thing for me now.

I also found comfort in creating small rituals that bring a sense of order and familiarity. Whether it’s making a cup of tea in the morning, journaling before bed, or lighting a candle while I work, these tiny practices help me reclaim moments of calm. They don’t stop the hurricane, but they give me somewhere where I feel grounded, centered, and safe.

Another powerful tool has been mindfulness really noticing what’s happening in the moment without judgment. When I’m walking my dog, for example, I pay attention to the rhythm of our steps, the sound of the leaves underfoot, the scent of rain in the air. These small moments of awareness remind me that life isn’t only the to-do lists or stressors but it’s also the texture, beauty, and quiet in between.

I’ve also learned to ask for help and set boundaries. Chaos feels heavier when we try to carry it all alone. Saying no, delegating, or simply sharing a concern with someone I trust doesn’t make me weak ever!

it creates breathing room. It reminds me that calm isn’t just about internal practices; it’s also about creating an environment that supports peace because god knows in this world we need it.

There are still days when the whirlwind returns, when everything feels too much, and calm feels impossible, But now I’ve learned to approach those days differently. Instead of fighting the storm, I try to move with it. I focus on small, manageable steps: one task, one breath, one moment at a time. Even amidst chaos, calm is possible if I allow it to exist in fragments, rather than waiting for the perfect, complete silence that may never come. Well in this house il be waiting a long bloody time.

For anyone struggling with overwhelm, I want to say this: calm doesn’t mean everything is perfect. Calm doesn’t mean all your problems have disappeared. Calm is the act of creating space within the shit storm, noticing the small moments of relief, and trusting that even in the busiest or hardest days, you can find grounding.

Finding calm has transformed how I experience life. I’m not less busy, and the responsibilities haven’t vanished, but I navigate them differently. There’s more patience, more clarity, and more gratitude. Chaos will always be part of my life, but calm is not beyond reach for me like I once thought it’s something we create, bit by bit and moment by moment.