By Jamie Smith, Miss April 2015

As I write my final blog as Miss April 2015, I keep wanting to write something like “My top 5 tips for finding renewal” or something like that. But it just doesn’t feel right. 

It’s the kind of headline that experts keep saying will get more clicks and we all want more clicks, right? But the truth is, I’m tired. I’m tired physically and a little bit mentally. But what I’m talking about right now is that I’m tired of so-called experts telling me what to do. Or at least that’s often what feels is happening. So why pretend that I know all about renew and that I can give all this sage advice? 

I’m tired of my newsfeed being filled with articles that proclaim they have the answers to life and that if I just follow these steps, my life will be organized. My life will be exciting. My life will be in perfect balance. 

I call hogwash. I admit, clicking on these types of headlines is tempting, especially when I feel disorganized, boring, or out of balance. Just one quick list that we can follow and all will be well, right? A few months ago I started feeling overwhelmed by the tips, instructions and unsolicited advice. So I stopped, backed away and reflected. 

Did I really need to be following all of these tips? Are these authors really presenting anything new? Even when I researched tips for renewing yourself it was stuff like get more rest, take a vacation, and eat more veggies. Basically, take care of yourself. 

I wondered if I was just being lazy by not feeling the urge to run out and make all the suggested changes? That’s how I felt at first but I realized that no, I didn’t need to follow their lead. Some of the advice is good, but I don’t need to turn my head and follow every self-proclaimed expert. 

I’ve learned that when I feel overwhelmed by life, I have to go back to my mantra of being enough. What am I called to do? What fits my belief system and my goals? What is truly important? When I get overwhelmed I try to step back and assess what has me overwhelmed and almost without a doubt it’s because I’ve tried to accomplish  what I don’t need to accomplish and I’m trying to be someone I’m not meant to be. 

I also find that once I realize this, I can’t just jump back in and everything’s OK. I have to truly readjust and almost withdraw (usually in small ways) before I can come back to full force and feel refreshed. Before I can feel focused. This may be taking a bit of quiet time from social media (since I use it for my profession I never get fully away, I just do less). It could also mean not participating in certain kinds of activities for a bit. Or, it could simply mean taking a weekend to just rest and veg out. 

I’m curious, how do you feel when you read headlines that offer advice on just about every aspect of life? Do you find those articles helpful or overwhelming? I can only share what works for me and don’t want to be one of “those” people who tells you that the same will be true for you. So I’m curious, what do you do when you get overwhelmed? When you need to be renewed?