To simplify your life, focus on these 3 things
We’ve all got a lot on our plates and it’s easy to get overwhelmed with all the things we’re managing. Let’s face it, life can be pretty complicated. If you’re like, “Yeah, understatement of the year”, well, my friend, the hard truth is you might be the one to blame. Yes, this may all be self-induced. Hear me out…
We’ve all become so accustomed to doing too much. And most of the time, we end up doing a mediocre job on all of them. People are so used to procrastination, burnout, anger and frustration, we’re almost numb to it and don’t even recognize when it’s happening. And all these behaviors result in meh results. Meh. When you look back on your life, do you want to think, “Yeah, it was just okay”? Of course, you don’t. Chris McChesney, author of The Four Disciplines of Execution, writes, “The more you try to do, the less you’ll actually accomplish. Focusing on the wildly important means narrowing the number of goals you’re trying to accomplish.”
So less...is more?
That’s right! So, if you’re nodding your head in agreement so far, you’re not alone! The #1 reason people seek out a life coach is to help them with tools to manage all the spinning plates in the air, how to use their time more efficiently and to help them prioritize. The #1 reason! But just because you want to simplify your life, doesn’t mean that it’s easy. Changing our behavior isn’t easy by any means. Tell that to my dehydrated body and me not drinking enough water every day. I know the struggle, believe me. Simplifying, and more importantly, staying disciplined to NOT do more, takes willpower and effort on your part. Have you seen me loose in Barnes & Noble after I just said I have too many books? It is so hard to not give in to “too much” of anything!
To start to simplify your life, focus on these three things to start. Remember less is more? Here’s where you can start:
Track your time for a week and see what you can step away from now. Someone once described me as having a “helium hand” meaning that I raise my hand to volunteer for too many things. It was true. I was overwhelmed, exhausted and doing a so-so job on everything. So I decided no more. I took an inventory of everything I was involved in and decided to gracefully step away from a few of them. By saying no to those few things, I was now able to focus on the most important and commit them with quality and attention. I’m much happier and sleeping better.
Use a planner or a to-do list. You’re 42% more likely to do something if you actually write it down. Like pen-to-paper writing it down. When you actually schedule things in your calendar, it can help you be more realistic with your time. For overachievers like me, we tend to overestimate our ability to get everything done and then feel bad when we don’t get everything done. We all have the same amount of time in a day and we should be realistic about how we use that time. If I have a list of 100 things to do each day, chances are I’ll actually only have time for 4-5 of them. Plugging them into my calendar helps to remind me of this and be real with myself about my time and availability.
Make a list of 10-minutes tasks. I am the Queen of 10-minute tasks. The Queen, I tell you. I keep a list next to my laptop of weekly chores and things around the house that can be done in less than 10 minutes. Team meeting ends early? Put a load of laundry in. Need a quick break before diving into a project? Call and schedule my next dentist appointment. Meeting with the boss rescheduled to tomorrow? Take my dogs for a walk around the block. Eyes criss-crossed from looking at spreadsheets? Take something out for dinner or even better, put something in the crock pot for dinner. 10-minute tasks will help you feel productive and help with all those “small” tasks that can easily be forgotten.
So simplifying really means getting back to basics. If you’re finding yourself in way too many things, chances are you’re probably involved in way too many things. Instead of doing a meh job on everything, focus on just a few to be excellent at, the most important things. By doing that, you’ll be well on your way to a sweet and simple life.
If you need help with prioritization, time management or even a partner to help sort out the important from the less-important, contact me today for an exploratory call or sign up for 1-on-1 coaching to see how life coaching can help you take action and accountability in your life. Also, don’t forget group coaching sessions start monthly. February’s book for group coaching is You Are A Badass at Making Money: Master the Mindset of Wealth by Jen Sincero.
I’m cheering you on and I’m rooting for you to find balance and clarity in your life. Hope to talk to you soon!
Love, Niki