Is it time to Re-organize: Priorities, Time, Stuff to bring about more happiness in life? Let’s examine the “big picture” regarding what needs to adapt and change!
Your Priorities
Take time to understand what is important to you. When it comes to priorities, there are three crucial points to remember. The first point is that creating a list of priorities based on values is pointless unless you take the list, follow it, make life changes. Use it as a guide—not place it with other lists created and long forgotten.
The second is, rank priorities. Everyone wants to give equal value to projects, family, and friends. However, time is limited. When it comes time to decide, one must take into consideration which family member, friend, or project needs you more at this specific time in life.
The third point is, priorities change. For not only you, but also the people around you. Life becomes a balancing act between priorities changing and the time allocated in the schedule.
The frustrating part about a daily priority list is the fact it grows and constantly changes. The moment you complete the priority list, your spouse shares new information, a co-worker or client storms in, or something new catches your eye. However, if you know the big priorities in life and keep those at the top of your list. As you schedule time in your calendar and plan, it allows you to keep the bigger priorities in mind when adjusting the day-to-day priorities in the schedule. Before adding or adjusting your schedule, evaluate how the task fits with your priorities. As you begin to understand the constant flux, stay true to the bigger priorities by focusing around the time you have and how the stuff you acquire changes that time.
Your Time
The big question is where do you want to spend your time. Routines are the basis of any schedule and depending on life factors like work, relationships, and travel, routines can change in the blink of an eye. You often find that if you get off certain boards or out of certain responsibilities, the time quickly fills up with something else.
It is important to be proactive with re-organizing your time before it has an opportunity to fill up. Do not compensate by trying to “ fit” things in your schedule as this is unproductive and only leads to excess stress over time.
Every month, it is good to analyze what your routine is and make general adjustments. When scheduling, leave enough margins in your day. For example, if you know there will be a lot of late night work over the next month, try to give yourself as much time as possible to sleep later in the day, or plan for a short nap in the evening before work begins.
If your priority is to travel more, how does your schedule need to change to make that happen? When it comes to time, you must schedule in your priorities first. When you don’t, you will find at the end of the month time is spent elsewhere a majority of the time.
Your Stuff
Here is the opportunity to think about how your assets and possessions affect you and re-organize the stuff for alignment. Have you spent a lifetime collecting and gathering only to realize it is stuff? Are you spending more time and money on maintaining your assets and possessions than you would like? Think about the following powerful questions:
Whether it is too many priorities, misdirected time, or an overwhelming amount of stuff. Let it go—no questions asked. This does not mean everyone has to be radical and simplify all assets and possessions or downsize. However, if it has a negative affect on your priorities and time, make the decision to re-organize in a big way by releasing the stuff, so you can appreciate life! Is it time to Re-Organize: Priorities, Time, Stuff?
Author, Trainer, LifeDesigner®
Melinda Smith, CPO® organizes, optimizes, and implements action plans, training, and consulting. Great referrals are Entrepreneurs, executives, and companies looking for a sustainable change with work, home, & you. Melinda has worked with companies and individuals for over 20 years conducting workshops across the East Coast that included over 60 cities in 19 states. Focus topics include Strategic Thinking, Teambuilding, Organization, Balance Strategies, Stress Management, and Embracing Change. Melinda was one of the first 200 in the nation to achieve a Certified Professional Organizer status and is a graduate of the Western School of Feng Shui (pronounced feng shway). Melinda has owned Balance & Harmony 360², Inc., since 2003 and is the author of The Complete Guide for Balance & Harmony OWL (Organize With a focus to Liberate) Kit that includes a book, workbook, F.O.C.U.S. Journal, and five products to systematically organize Work, Home, and You.
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