Romanticizing the Chaos: Staying on Top of It All Without Falling Apart
If there’s one thing I’ve always been known for, it’s doing a lot. In college, I double-majored, had a concentration, graduated with honors, did academic research, was in a sorority, led clubs, and still found time to go out multiple nights a week. It wasn’t because I had to—it’s just how I’m wired. I’ve always wanted a full life. A big one. With experiences, people, challenges, and momentum.
And when I graduated, I didn’t want to lose that energy. I knew my goals were huge. I wanted a career that mattered, financial freedom, deep friendships, and a life so full it felt like a montage. That kind of life doesn’t happen by accident. You build it—day by day, week by week.
Right now, I work a full-time job, run side projects, go out 3–4 nights a week, stay close with my friends, go on dates, read for fun, am in a book club, moved to a new city, and just finished my MBA. And I still manage to rewatch The Vampire Diaries without spiraling.
So no—I’m not burnt out. And no—I don’t have a secret superpower. But I do have a system that helps me balance a busy life without falling apart. Here’s exactly how I manage it:
1. Know Exactly What You Want Your Life to Look Like
This sounds basic, but most people never do it. I don’t just mean vague goals like “success” or “happiness.” I mean literally spending time building the clearest, most detailed version of what you want your life to look like once things start working.
I actually use ChatGPT for this (shocking, I know). I’ll type in something like:
“If all the goals I’ve been working on play out, what does my life look like a year from now?”
It’s wild how clarifying this can be. When it starts describing your future life, it’s like flipping a coin midair—you suddenly know exactly which side you want it to land on.
Once you see it clearly, you can reverse engineer it:
What habits get you there? What distractions pull you away? What’s worth your time right now?
It’s like having a map instead of just running around hoping things work out. And when you know what you’re working toward, every task—even the boring ones—starts to feel more meaningful.
2. Let Go of What’s Not Helping You Get There
Here’s the best part about clarity: it makes decision-making way easier. When you know your vision, you naturally start letting go of what doesn’t fit. You don’t have to cut out every “nonproductive” activity (we're not robots), but you might start trading one hour of Netflix for one hour of progress.
Suddenly, burnout becomes a lot less scary—because you’re energized by your direction. Everything feels more intentional, even if your life still looks a little chaotic from the outside.
3. Use Sundays as a Strategy Session
I’ve said it before, but Sundays are everything. It’s when I reset—socially, mentally, logistically. I plan my calendar, check in on my work and goals, schedule beauty maintenance (let’s be real), and make sure my social life has structure.
You can read my full Sunday Reset post here if you want a breakdown, but here’s the short version:
Plan your social time just like your work time
Clean your space—it clears your brain
Know your meetings, goals, and vibes for the week
Make time to romanticize the chaos
Check in with your “big vision” and course-correct
I call it delusional structure, but it works.
4. The Power of Yes (Controversial Opinion)
Most productivity advice is about learning to say no. And that’s valid—for some people. But I’ve found that for me? Saying yes more often is what actually keeps me energized.
Last-minute dinner plan? I’ll go—even if I had “work on the blog” in my calendar. That night out might lead to a new idea, or just a really good laugh I needed. And guess what? The next day, I’m usually more motivated because I let myself live a little.
It’s not about saying yes to everything—it’s about saying yes when it feels right, and trusting yourself to make space for what matters later.
Let your intuition lead, not your guilt.
5. Alone Time Is Not Optional
Even though I love people and go out a lot, I need time alone to actually think. Not just scroll in silence, but actually exist in my own head. That’s where my ideas come from. It’s where I reconnect with what I want.
I eat meals alone without music or distractions. I go for solo walks without podcasts. I let my brain breathe. And every time I do, I come back more inspired, more focused, and way less likely to spiral.
If your brain feels cluttered all the time, start here.
6. Beat “Paralysis by Analysis” with One Easy Task
I struggle with this one a lot. Sometimes I’ll have 10 things to do and instead… I’ll just scroll. Or rewatch something. Or convince myself I need to research the best way to get started for two hours.
Here’s my solution:
Pick one tiny task. Do it immediately.
Empty the dishwasher
Send one easy email
Text someone back
Move laundry to the dryer
This gives me momentum. And once I feel a little productive, I’m way more likely to tackle the real task I’ve been avoiding. Sometimes I even write out a list of all the small things first, check them off, and then—boom—I’m on a roll.
It’s not conventional productivity advice, but it’s realistic. And more importantly, it works.
Final Thoughts
Here’s the truth: You can do a lot. You just need to know why you’re doing it. You need clarity, not perfection. You need momentum, not pressure. And you need to remember that discipline and joy aren’t opposites—they’re both required if you want to build a life that actually feels like yours.
Yes, I do a lot. But I also enjoy my life. I make space for fun, chaos, stillness, and ambition—sometimes all in one day. And that’s what I mean by romanticizing the chaos.
It’s not about doing it all perfectly.
It’s about doing it your way—and loving the process as much as the outcome.
