Prioritize Your Life:
Finding a Healthy Balance
Prioritize your life by finding a healthy balance. With life
and it's many demands, it's easy to become overburdened and
stressed out.
No matter what kind of life you live, a healthy balance of
events will keep you feeling accomplished and satisfied. Finding
this healthy balance is necessary in order to maintain good
mental and physical health.
We all have things we absolutely must do everyday. Then there are things we
agree to do because we feel obligated. Let's face it, many of us have a hard
time saying no, and even if we didn't want to say no in the first place, we
don't feel like we are allowed to change our minds! And then there are those
things we want for ourselves and most of the time, we don't have the time to get
to those.
It's important to realize that you can't be all things to all
people... all of the time! It's impossible to do everything without
something else suffering for it.
I don't know about you, but there are times when I have felt like there is
just not enough time in the day to accomplish everything I imagine myself doing
(or have planned for myself to do). I know that at times, I have accomplished
this very long list of duties I have placed on myself (of course they were
things that I felt I had to do), but instead of feeling happy and
accomplished, I ended up feeling exhausted and overwhelmed.
Now let's face reality. We are human! Yes, we hold the ability to accomplish
anything we set our minds to doing...but not all of it at the same time.
Learning to prioritize your life effectively takes some real work. I am sure
many of you will find it extremely challenging, especially if you have a hard
time saying no to other people. You must remember that it's okay to say
no and without feeling guilty! Many people do not like saying no
for fear of what others might think about them or they simply don't want to hurt
their feelings. I want you to know that you have a much more important job than
pleasing other people.... and that it staying true to yourself by doing those
things that matter to you the most.
There is only so much time in a day!
So what's important to you? Be honest with yourself.
Recognizing what those things are and writing them down will help you keep
things in proper perspective. Make sure you post them where you can see them and
be reminded everyday.
What are your absolute MUST DO's for the day?
This will be those things that require your full attention such as going to
work or attending an appointment for you or a family member.
Things like laundry, cooking, cleaning, and other chores are all important,
but only to an extent. We do have the choice when and how we
want to accomplish these things. Many of these things, although a necessary part
of life, are not usually dependent upon time limits.
Only you know what is most important to you at any given moment.
Try This Exercise:
Write down your daily routine. This will help you see all
those demands on paper.
Put a #1 next to those
things that are most important for the day. Remember time for you
should be marked as a #1. So make sure you add yourself to this very
important list. Most of the time, people do not take time for themselves each
day but I am telling you that it is extremely important to do so. Whether it is
for exercise, getting your nails done, or just taking a hot bath.... DO IT! If
you don't take care of yourself and make yourself a priority, how will you ever
accomplish that long list in front of you without burning out? Oh, and guilt is
NOT allowed!
It is this list that will be your main focus for the day.
Then go through your list again, putting a #2
next to those other things that come in second (and maybe even third place) for
importance. These are the things that, if they had to wait, can wait
until tomorrow if necessary. Third place means you don't have to do it at all
and it can be written off the list if necessary.
Again, only do what is most important to you.
Remember that your positive self-talk is extremely important. How you
perceive yourself and your abilities matter greatly. Remind yourself often of
what's most important to you. Encourage yourself daily. Write a list of
positive, truthful things that will keep you focused and place it where you can
see it throughout the day.
Another important thing that I need to tell you is....Never mind what others
are doing!!! Do not compare yourself to them and how they are doing life. We all
have this tendency to measure our lives by looking at the lives of other people.
The whole idea of "Keeping up with the Joneses'" is a destructive way to live.
Don't buy the lie! Your life is your life. It is just as valuable and important
than the next guys. What is more important to you? Having what others have, or
being happy and having good mental and physical health? Be true to yourself,
this is where true happiness lies!
Life is what happens when your busy making other
plans."
John Lennon
If you haven't read the story called
The Mayonnaise Jar, be sure to read it. Print it up and remember to keep
things in proper perspective!
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