Stress has been sneaking up on my over the last few weeks and I’m struggling with how I can live in the moment again. I miss the more vibrant, happy me but she’s slipping away.
I decided to do what I always do – write about it.
Table of Contents
How Can I Live In the Moment? (When the Odds are Against Me)
I have a confession, and as always, I get this strange urge to share my darkest moments with you. This isn’t a dark time (yet), but it could get there fast if I don’t stop the spiral now.
I haven’t been taking my own advice – you know, the whole “live in the moment” thing. And not stress about the future.
When I slide into stress mode, all the hard work I’ve done to slow down and live life with intention gets tossed right out the window. Then I stress more. Then I feel defeated. Then I check out for a bit. I consume too much social media, ditch my favorite hobbies, and snack like it’s my full-time job.
So how did I get here? Honestly, I’m only in the early stages of overwhelm. I can turn things around but first I have to recognize what’s nudging me off balance.
How Can I Live In the Moment Again? (The Issues that Got Me Here)
If you didn’t know, I recently moved to New York to be with my partner, Dan. And yeah… moving is stressful. I’ve been rolling with the punches pretty well because I actually enjoy change, but I’m also missing my old life a bit.
And there’s more. For the sake of time, here’s what’s keeping me from living in the moment :
- Moving to New York. Yes, I’m happy but it’s been stressful too.
- My YouTube channel isn’t doing well. I want to quit, but I also feel like I should keep going.
- Growing my online work and business has been painfully slow.
- For the first time ever, I’m away from my babies (yes, my 25 and 27 year-old babies).
- It’s been cloudy in New York for over a week — and less sun hits me hard.
- The days are getting shorter.
- I started working out again and wow… everything hurts.
- The cold is making my joints cranky.
- I’m tired of being pulled in a thousand directions.
- The holidays are coming, and being broke is stressful.
I can look on the bright side of things. For instance, I’m sore because I can workout. I’m in New York because I get to be with my partner. And I love the holiday season. You get the idea.
Looking on the bright side does help but everything has compiled and that’s when I look for more solid solutions.
How Can I Live In the Moment Again? (The Solution)
I’m going to tell you something that blew my mind when I really let it sink in :
You can’t give what you don’t have.
You can’t give respect if you don’t respect yourself.
You can’t give love if you don’t love yourself.
You can’t give money if you’re broke.
Simple as that.
It’s like the plane oxygen mask rule — you take care of yourself first. When I slow down, reconnect with myself, and live in the actual moment I’m in, I’m a better human to everyone I care about — especially the people closest to me.
This matters to me because one of my biggest desires in life is to show up well for my kids, my family, and my partner. If I’m stressed, that’s what I hand to them. And I don’t want that.
This mindset shift always re-centers me, and it’s usually what pushes me back into taking care of myself.
Here are the steps I take :
- Recognize what’s going on (check — did that above).
- Take one small action that I love doing
- Write in my journal.
- Read my own Monday Motivations emails.
- Talk to a trusted friend or my partner, Dan.
- Get outside — hiking is my therapy.
- Slow down until I can mentally rev back up again.
- Shift my mindset and remind myself I’m human. Bad moments happen.
How Can I Help YOU Live for Today?
Are you feeling stressed right now too? The holidays creeping up, too much negative news, or just a heaping plate of life stuff? I’m right here with you.
Please slow down and take a little time for yourself.
And just so you know, you’re not alone in this. I created my Monday Motivations series to help start the week with clarity and encouragement — and honestly, I read them myself as reminders that I’m trying, growing, and doing my best.
There’s also a free Goal Setting Guide that comes with it, but don’t let that add pressure. If goals stress you out, call them something else. Don’t set deadlines. Just pick something you enjoy — something that helps you feel like you again — and do it often.
You deserve to feel grounded. You deserve to feel like yourself. And you deserve moments that actually feel like your life again.
Examples of my Monday Motivations emails below
Thank You for Stopping By!
Hi, I’m Allie, obsessed hiker, explorer of our world and reinventor of my life in my 50s.
Here at AllieRambles I explore what it means to rebuild and chase freedom in your 50s and beyond—because life doesn’t end at midlife, it begins.
I also write A LOT about being outdoors hiking, biking and paddling as much as I can – all over the United States and beyond.
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