On our journey to move from surviving thriving we’ve creating a list of our values and took a hard look at our schedule to see what we are actually spending our time on.
If you are like me you will have noticed that you are directing too much of your precious resources, time and energy, on things that don’t matter. No wonder you feel tired and drained most evenings!
I know, by the time 8pm rolls around, you tell yourself that you are too tired to do anything besides flopping on the couch to binge watch Netflix and or scroll mindlessly through your favourite social media channel.
The key words are binge and mindless.
Let’s get some of your energy back.
How can we design a life and a schedule that reflects our values?
First identify the things in your schedule that don’t matter and (here’s the kicker), stop doing them.
Really, give yourself permission to stop. Give it a try for a week or two and see what the consequences are. I know for a fact that giving up Netflix or Facebook for a week won’t cause your life to implode. Think of it as an experiment.
If some of these things are tasks that still need to get done, delegate or ask for help. Could your kids pack their own lunch for school? Yes, you may need to train them to include vegetables and a source of protein. Your kids are smart. Why are you still packing their lunches? Unless this task brings you joy, it’s time to delegate.
Packing my son’s lunch does not bring me joy. He started making his lunch when he was 6. I still supervise and make sure that we have food that is easy for him to pack into his bento style lunch box. Now I’m able to get out of the kitchen a little earlier in the evening and my son packs a lunch he will eat. Win-win!
Just because you are good or great at something doesn’t mean you need to do it. So maybe you there aren’t school lunches to be made at your home, I guarantee there are things you are doing that make you feel productive but are actually distractions.
Being productive can be thinly disguised as procrastination.
Are you filling your days with “necessary” tasks but in reality you are just avoiding doing the things that might be uncomfortable or require extra effort?
These could be having difficult conversations or tracking your expenses so you know where your money is going. This could even be something fun that you don’t prioritize like pulling out your paint or crafting supplies and doing something creative.
There are only 24 hours in a day. You need 8 hours of sleep and 8 hours for your job. That leaves you with 8 hours for everything else.
You need to have the space in your schedule for activities that reflect your values.
What do you need to stop doing in order to find some space?
Remember it’s perfectly acceptable or I would argue essential to ask for help, delegate or outsource.
Get some of those tasks off your plate. Do NOT get a bigger plate!
Anastasia Hendryanto
Life Design Coach and Enneagram Teacher
