Do you ever get to the end of a long busy day and think about how you wish your day had been filled with other things? Do you ever think about how you did nothing today that you actually wanted to do? If this happens often, it might be time to take a look at where you want to focus your energy in the future. Applying a practice of prioritizing can really change your life for the better once you know what matters to you most. Your time is precious. Spend it on what lights you up and brings you joy.
What lights me up? What brings me joy? The quickest, no-think, clear response is the image of my son. Just like the picture above, I try to blur out the rest of the world and focus only on that sweet face when I start to slide into the bad habit of getting worked up about small stuff. The big stuff is my son. He's the only stuff. If that face isn't smiling, safe, and content, I feel like my other actions are borderline useless. If there is one person on this planet that lights me up, it is him. His innocence. His pure intentions. His endless stream of hugs, giggles and kisses. When chaos overtakes my day, I refocus on this image and I'm quickly brought back to my happy place.
Where is your happy place?
We can't necessarily be where we want to be every second of every day, but we CAN increase our joy that we experience every day if we prioritize. Here are a few tips.
1. Make a list of your priorities:
Really think about them and list them. Then read it again and see if you can trim it down even more. Edit until you are really left with what matters to YOU. Don't let what you think others might think SHOULD be your priorities get tangled up in this list. Block out the desires of others. This is not about them. This all about you.
2. Learn to say no:
This one is so hard for me. Or at least it used to be. I often hear friends saying they'd rather not do such and such, but they'd "feel bad if they didn't go." Now there are times where there are benefits to showing up for friends and family even when you'd rather not. Don't you want them to do that for you when it is important to you? BUT, there are limits. You don't HAVE to do everything you are asked to do. Learn to say no when it does not serve you or your family at that time. Politely thank them for their invite, but be honest that you are not going to be there.
3. You don't have to make excuses:
When you say no, no is a complete sentence. You don't need to go on and on about how you were sick last week and now your child had baseball practice and your husband might be running late and you have a deadline to finish...forget that! I sometimes spend more time coming up with excuses of why I can't than if I had just attended! What is wrong with that concept? EVERYTHING. Don't be a hostage to an invite to something that you are really not interested in. Like I said earlier, your time is precious. Don't let anyone guilt you into spending your time in a way that is not your choice.
4. Experience spending time doing things you love:
Block out time to do the things that make your soul sing. There is nothing better than feeling fulfilled. There is nothing worse than feeling empty. Don't fill your emptiness with unhealthy time wasters. This might include excessive TV watching, gambling, smoking, overeating, excessive internet time killing, etc. Everyone is different. I doubt when you get to the end of your life you'd say "I wish I had spent more time on Twitter." Doubtful right? Think of the things you want to fill your life with and then do it.
Design the life you want to live.
I hope this message reaches you today. Good luck rearranging your priorities and enjoying your new, personally designed time!
