If you are tired of being constantly busy but ending your days feeling like you are not any closer to living the life you desire. If you find frustration features heavily in your day then it’s time to take back control and rethink how you prioritise things.
Stop prioritising the easy stuff
It’s easy and understandable to think that the more you take off your to-do list the closer you will be to getting everything done. You are wrong. The only time I will ever tell you that it’s okay to prioritise the easy stuff is as your very first step to overcoming shiny object syndrome and helping you to get into the habit of finishing things before moving onto the next.
In the long run, when working towards our dreams, it isn’t the quantity of boxes you tick, it’s the quality of those boxes. Save the easy stuff for the last minute if need be, but focus first on the things that will really move you forward.
Learn to say no.
As a wife, mother, employer, and coach this is probably one of the best pieces of advice I ever took.
People will demand as much of your time as you allow them.
Your children, your spouse, your employees, your clients, they will all let you do as much as you do. So start delegating and before you go on a guilt trip or down the perfectionist path remember;
It is not what we do for others, it is what we teach others to do for themselves that matters. If you really struggle to say No,and assert yourself try saying this instead;
“I’m sorry, I can’t do that at the moment. I can try and fit you in at some point but I honestly couldn’t say when, I’ll let you know when I can.”
Most people really don’t need you to do what they ask of you right away.
Let go of the Guilt
Get off that train and stop making those guilt trips.
When you are working on your business, you feel guilty for not spending enough time with your family. When you are spending time with your family, you feel guilty that you’re not working on your business and if at any moment, you suddenly realise you haven’t been feeling guilty, you immediately feel guilty that you weren’t!! ARGH!! Pull that emergency brake and get your ass off that crazy Train. You have as much right to anyone else, to do what you want to do, when you want to do it. Can you really produce your best work if you are worried about the time you are not spending with your family? Will your family really get to enjoy quality time with you, if you are just musing over what you should be doing in your business?
If you really believe you are not just being ridiculously hard on yourself and you truly are neglecting an area of your life, then you need to re-evaluate your time. Obviously, this area is a huge priority and that is why you can’t let go of the guilt but what area can you take time from to give more to this? What can you do right now, to spend more time in that area? Do you need to become more organised? Do you need to develop your focus and productivity? What chores can you simplify, cut down or even cut out? What can you delegate? What things do you do that don’t now, nor will they ever, move you closer to your dreams?
You need to learn to prioritise and make decisions based on what really matters to you in your life. It is your life and it is all about you. You wouldn’t write an autobiography based on everyone else.
Prioritise you
One of the main things that must always be at the top of your priorities is you. Everything you do must be in line with your values, your passion, and your happiness. Schedule some time every day to connect with yourself. It is so easy to lose sight of who we are and get off track, if we don’t make time for ourselves.
Long-term thinking
Whenever we are designing our priorities we must look at the bigger picture.
What is the ultimate goal or big dream you are working towards?
Now look at your to-do list. Is this going to contribute significantly to my ultimate goal? Do I feel passionate about getting this done? Do I truly believe this will work? If you answered yes to these three questions then it’s time to take action, right now.
Don’t give yourself the opportunity to talk yourself out of it. It is a priority, it is non-negotiable and it needs to be acted upon right now.
To help you further, in the Fempreneurz Launch Hub, I’ve created a mini-course to help you get your priorities in order and schedule a business around your life.
