How do we Keep Going when the Roller Coaster of Life won’t Stop?

While my son was working on a recent family project, a large piece of wood landed on his lower leg. Based on his pain and inability to walk, we thought it might be fractured or even broken. Having just returned home from a wonderful time celebrating  December birthdays with our extended family, the day had started on a high note, then suddenly ended on a low note.

Does life ever feel like riding a roller coaster?

One minute/day everything is up and the next moment, everything crashed down. Life always seems to cycle in this way, but I find there are times of the year when the cycle rapidly increases in fluctuation.

With so many birthdays in the month of December, the end of the year is always busy for us! I love the school holiday concerts, company Christmas parties, family traditions, and birthday celebrations. However, in between each of these is the mad dash to clean the house, to manage unusually packed weeknight schedules, and the driving…oh so much driving! Add in there the inevitable “holiday bug,” or any other unplanned emergency, and the up and down cycle can cause near whiplash. 

No matter what time of year it is, in this rapid exchange of highs and lows, there are steps we can take to help us ride this roller coaster called life.

1. Find Steadiness in Scripture. When my schedule gets full, the first thing to get pushed aside is my morning time with God. While I prefer a quiet moment with my Bible and journal, sometimes that is not an option. In order to keep my heart and head focused on the truth found in God’s Word, I need to use different tools. A YouVersion devotional and a short podcast on Advent have become my go-to in this current season of vacillation. Both of these activities can be listen to while I am getting ready in the morning or driving in the car. While these may not be my favorite methods, they are still effective. There are many options available to us in this technological era. We just have to find the one that works for us in this season.
2. Take Time to be Still. The crazier life gets, the more important it is to find moments of stillness. Taking time to be still allows the mind and body to release internal tension. Stillness also allows us to refocus our priorities, releasing objectives that do not fit with our values. Setting an alarm or using an app on our phones can help cue us to take time to pause, breathe, and/or pray.
3. Sleep! As we jump from highs to lows, trying to wring out every bit of fun or productivity from a day, sleep often gets pushed aside. As fatigue builds, emotions run hotter or we simply shut down, trying to just survive the moment. The ability to cope with the rollercoaster of life diminishes. If possible, make sleep a priority, even if that means sneaking in a quick nap.
4. Manage Expectations. When life is full, having realistic expectations of ourselves and others is key! If we want to avoid added stress from disappointment we need to check our expectations. Can we really accomplish everything on our to-do list for the day? Are we asking our spouse or significant other to meet a need we have not communicated to him or her? Being realistic with ourselves about what we are capable of in a specific time frame is critical to surviving the twists and turns life throws at us. 
5. Hold onto Grace. Inevitably, something is going to go wrong. As we shift gears at a rapid pace we need to remember to have grace for ourselves and others. No matter how well we try to manage our expectations we are bound to be disappointed at some point. We can try to protect our sleep, but there will be instances that require us to stay up way past our bedtime. We can take time to be still and be in the Word, yet nevertheless experience stress and frustration. Holding onto grace allows us to keep moving forward and not getting caught up on any one point. 

What is the time of year you know is always on the edge of chaos? How can implementing these strategies make a difference in your life?