I am consumed with an acute awareness of how terribly fast time disappears!
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My day starts, I’m full of enthusiasm and excitement for the tasks that keep me busy. I love being busy. Being creative. Sorting. Organizing.
But there was one vital thing that I never used to do. I didn’t plan.
If you don’t have a plan you “plan” to fail. That sounds a bit drastic but having a plan helps us focus and we actually achieve so much more – with our families, at work, in any setting.
Having a plan is not just about how much you’re going to achieve. Read more about it in How To Plan and Get Stuff Done.
It’s about balance. We need it to stay productive and happy in the long term. Especially if we want to make the most of the moments that we have.
Blink & the Day is GONE
Most days I bustle around as though there is no such thing as time, and then, suddenly, I realize the day has gone!
When night falls I’m always surprised as though it’s not a regular, everyday occurrence. Maybe that sounds silly, but it’s how I feel.
And so, with fear of losing time by not using it wisely, I frantically pour my heart into achieving everything I possibly can and I am still frustrated with my level of production at the end of the day.
Feeling Like You’re Not Achieving?
Something I am great at is setting incredibly unachievable goals for myself. I’m also great at being the whip for my own back when I don’t achieve them. This is definitely not a great way to make the moments I have count.
If you’re anything like me, you’ll know the sting of not being where you wanted to be at the end of each day. You’ll also know how hopeless you feel about it. Often, I would then be harder on myself and push my goals higher.
Not productive. Also, the longer it goes on the closer to burnout.
No one wants to reach burnout. You don’t get a trophy. You get “exhaustion, and feelings of failure. Untrue, negative beliefs about yourself that take root and start to grow. No one needs that.
The thing is, all the pressure you’re under – most of that is your own choice (I have to tell myself this a lot, every day actually because somehow I forget it).
Don’t Beat Yourself Up
Instead of focusing on what I have achieved, I add up all the things I haven’t done and beat myself up about it.
This does two things:
- Builds a false belief that I am incapable
- Destroys all productivity
It’s really not a bad thing to be organized or even to be a little crazy about it. Achieving your goals is wonderful! I love achieving mine!
However, being organized and achieving those goals at the expense of contentment is not ok! I’m definitely not nice to be around when I let myself get upset about everything I haven’t done.
So, I don’t want to be that person. Ever! I know I’ve hurt people I love in those moments.
Choosing to Let Go
Honestly, I believe it’s a choice to listen to the lies I tell myself, and when I do, I find myself lashing out. I don’t want this to be a life pattern.
The time we each have is an incredible gift that has been handed freely to us. I want to spend mine wisely!
Make Your Moments Count
So where I want to be, is taking one day at a time, using the minutes, hours, days, that I’ve been given in a productive and happy balance.
I’m not perfect so I will try, try, and try again. Everyday.
What will you do with your life? Your time? Make Your Moments Count!
If today was a write-off, just start again with tomorrow’s clean slate.
Joanna Steele
