Setting priorities is a must if you want to lead a healthier, wealthier life.
If you’ve been following along, you’ll remember that last week I threw out a challenge to figure out what you love, so you aren’t wasting time/money/energy on things that aren’t for you. If you missed it or want a refresher, here’s the link.
Once you have your two lists and have been able to do some work on those. By prioritizing what you love and delegating or deleting some of what you don’t. You are ready for the next step.
If you had trouble getting rid of things, try breaking them down into smaller increments.
For example, if cleaning the house is on your list break that down into vacuuming, dusting, cleaning the toilet, mopping, etc. If you have others living with you, decide who is going to do what. A great way to do this with your partner is to discuss which tasks each person likes (or despises the least) and go from there.
Think about which tasks your children can handle or help with; even small children can help dust or make their beds. Just remember, in this scenario, you may need to relinquish some of your control over “how things should be done” to ensure you are not the only one trying to do everything. Done is better than perfect!
The other thing you might consider (especially if you live alone, or this is a major point of contention) is looking at your finances to determine if it’s possible and/or worth it to hire this task out.
The key to staying out of overwhelm is to keep tasks small and prioritize what you need to get done each day. The best way to do this is by looking ahead.
What does your week look like? What does tomorrow look like?
You’ll want to have at least a baseline plan for the next day before you go to sleep at night. This will give you the luxury of a peaceful night’s sleep and of knowing exactly what to do first when the morning comes.
Here are some practical things you can do to look ahead and plan for each day…
Figure out what your top three priorities are from that list of must do’s.
Then, work only on priority number one until you are finished with it. My father used to tell me to do the hardest things first and, for me, that has been sage advice. Then, whatever that thing is doesn’t weigh me down the rest of the day.
However, if you’re not able to finish a task in a day, that means the item is too large and you will need to break it down into smaller, baby steps. I love using Evernote to make my lists and checking an item off when I complete it. That feeling of accomplishment is so satisfactory!
When you are done with the priority one, move on to the next and so on.
It makes a huge difference to know what your top priority is because it’s super easy for life to get away with us and time to pass without accomplishing anything on our list! Psychologically, if you know you are tackling your top priority first, you’ll always have a sense of accomplishment at the end of each day.
If your top priority on the weekend is just to be with your children, honour that. This will build your trust in yourself. The priorities are up to you, but the system of numbering them and choosing no more than three each day will set you free!
Focus is the key to living a life and leading the business you truly want. Set your priorities. Start today. Be prepared for tomorrow.
Email me with any questions you have at karen@ktfinances.com or comment below to let me know how it’s going. I love hearing from you and will respond to every single one!
As always sending you tons of light and love.
Hugs,
Karen