(PLEASE SEE PREVIOUS ARTICLE: “how to reset when life keeps throwing curveballs” on thedignityofman.net website or on the dignityofman.net Patreon podcast)
So life threw you curveballs. You have finally arrived at the safe port. Your body isn’t trying to avoid life anymore, and it feels safe.
You may not have all your energy yet—it takes time. But the only way forward is to re-establish your routine, helping you make progress and tackle the tasks you’ve had to put on hold while healing.
Let’s review some ideas and see if any resonate with you.
Find your biggest boulder…then downsize it…
As you may have learned from the previous article or podcast, “How to Reset When Life Keeps Throwing Curveballs”, making progress means doing little steps. Trying to heal by pushing yourself will only make things worse. And when you’re facing big obstacles, trying to tackle the entire thing in one go will only cause more stress…the very thing you just came out of.
So find something that has been weighing on you and is of great urgency that needs to be tackled first. Then break it into manageable chunks.
Let me relate a real life example I just went through:
Guests were arriving to spend Christmas with our family, so I knew I couldn’t keep up with my weekly writing and posting. I pushed ahead, scheduling content to go through a month after they left, hoping for some downtime to recover. But life had other plans, ratcheting up stress just before I had to reset. On the few days I had energy, I kept writing and posting ahead to stay on track.
Then a series of financial crisis began to rear their ugly heads…
One after another.
First, the car needed front end, rear end, and other costly maintenance. Check. I thought I was done for the year. Nope.
The 3-year-old roof began to leak caused by the manufactured home being dropped twice during its move, and subsequently repaired which apparently didn’t matter. Rain revealed loose boards that had never been secured. The top half of the roof had to be replaced, draining what little savings I had.
Last season, I rebuilt the garden tractor deck. This season, it dropped the left side and dug furrows in the lawn. Blade engagement issues meant I needed an expert. Lacking a trailer, I called a mobile mechanic—reasonable and above expectations—who fixed it. Until it hit something hidden, bent the blade, and made more furrows.
And that’s not all. A large tree next to the house suddenly died without warning. I called the contractors I knew and trusted for recommendations and was given the name of someone. He was reasonably priced and honest, but it still was costly overall, since six more trees in the woods needed removal.
All that was stressful enough. Then Pascha: an Orthodox all-nighter, followed by a picnic if you survived. After that fateful celebration, my body shut down. I still had work, articles to write and post, but exhaustion has persisted for over a month.
Was life finished with me yet? Of course not. My doctor left the practice for a better position, leaving me to try to find someone just as competent—a rare find indeed, and hard to find someone of equal competence to replace her. I finally found someone who worked virtually since there were none to replace her in my area. It was a move she approved of as well, which made it an easier transition.
Maybe now, life will stop throwing curveballs so I can get back on track.
So what did I do?
I rested, practiced mindfulness and meditated when possible, mostly listening to music with specific frequencies. I focused on catching up with postings to establish a sustainable routine. I broke down rushed tasks into simple steps and assigned manageable daily goals for writing, editing, recording, and posting. It was a struggle, but it worked. While stress remains, there’s now flexibility to make steady progress.
Additionally, I now have an accountability partner to help me on my journey – my new doctor.
Think about your biggest struggle…
What steps can you take now to create space and breathe in a few weeks? Set a deadline to catch up. It will be tough, especially after recent stress, but pushing through a little longer will be worth the recovery. Aim to restore your routines, even if progress isn’t perfect and shortcuts are needed. The ultimate goal is to clear your plate enough to see the runway ahead.
Find someone to hold you accountable. Rest as much as possible, focus on easy tasks, and postpone non-urgent ones.
Add in time to meditate. Listen to meditative style music, calming and peaceful that resonates with your body. Think on at least one thing you are grateful for and let it flow through you. Then practice at least a few minutes more of resetting with mindfulness in the morning before you start your day. Become aware of your surroundings, focusing on your senses instead of your thoughts. Continue that practice as you feel the stress beginning to build once more. Become tuned to your body’s signals.
Then remember to eat well eliminating the junk foods and increasing good proteins and high quality fats to help restore your body’s nervous system and functions. Drink water. Limit coffee and tea for now instead of using them as your crutch for energy boosts. And limit sugars and carbohydrates to only 30 grams per day. Less if you can do it. It will help your body to learn to use the good fats and proteins for fuel instead of heading you toward early Type II Diabetes.
After the crisis, start rebuilding your schedule by tackling the biggest pieces first, one at a time. Move slowly and set manageable weekly goals to avoid overload while healing. Focus on one task each day; you can add more later. Achieving daily goals will boost your confidence and motivate you to get back on track. Prioritize downtime, avoid taking work home, and set boundaries to protect your energy. Don’t push beyond your current limits.
Don’t forget to allocate time to destress before sleep. Use calming music with headphones to settle your mind. Reading a physical book—turning pages and imagining the story without screens helps disconnect from electronics. This digital detox is vital, especially for those whose day revolves around computers.
Be patient with yourself. Journaling your recovery can provide clarity and a path forward. It will also give you insight on what worked when the next crisis knocks you off your feet. Breathe deeply. Once you’re back in a routine, prioritize time away from work and screens. Stay mindful—it’s key to staying grounded on life’s journey.
Eventually, you’ll undo the stress life threw at you and see the light at the end of the tunnel.
Remember, there is always hope for a new beginning.
