I'm a big fan of lists.
There are lists all over my house - on my refrigerator, next to my bed, all over my desk.
Lists of things to do, things to buy, events to remember.
The funny thing about lists, especially the To Do kind, is that you're never, ever done.
There's always more you can add to them.
My fellow list-makers are nodding their heads as they read this.
We start a list, cross a few things off, add to it, then rewrite it when it gets too messy.
It's never-ending.
This past week, I started a new job.
I'm writing the next chapter in my career journey and so far I'm loving it!
But with this change comes the need to re-organize and re-balance my life.
And my priorities.
It's time to take all of my To Do lists and really look at them closely.
Which things wouldn't matter if I never did them at all?
What order should they be in based on the value they add to my life?
How can I eliminate distractions so I have time to do the things that are most important?
Asking ourselves these questions is something we should do on a regular basis, not just when a major life event happens.
But, well...sometimes life happens.
When's the last time you stepped back to look at your list and considered whether the things on it are adding value to your life?
It's easy to spend all of our time on the day-to-day stuff, like buying groceries, paying bills, doing dishes, folding laundry...
But what about the big stuff, the things you are passionate about? The goals and dreams that truly make you happy and fulfilled?
Those need to be on your list too.
Hours/days/weeks/years can go by and we fill them with all of the little stuff.
We cross off the day to day tasks from our list, feeling accomplished at the end of our day.
But if we aren't conscious of how we spend our time, the things that make us light up and feel really good about who we are can stay on our list forever and never get crossed off.
The key is prioritizing time for them. Even if it's just a few minutes per day.
And saying no to the things that take up your time but don't add value.
I know that in the midst of my new work commitments and day to day life, I need to prioritize time to write this blog, stay connected to my group members, and to work on my second book.
That might mean that I limit time on social media, pay for grocery delivery instead of driving to the store and only answer personal texts or emails once a day.
I might let those dishes sit in the sink overnight in favor of spending an extra half hour writing.
And I might have to get up an hour hour earlier each day so I can still fit my workout in and keep my body healthy.
There's a quote by Earl Nightingale that I hear in my head when the little stuff threatens to take over:
"Never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass anyway."
No matter how big your dreams are, don't take them off your list.
And don't be afraid to prioritize them above other day-to-day tasks.
Just do one small thing that moves you forward every day.
You'll be surprised how fast you'll start to see progress. And how good it will make you feel.
Take a minute to think about the goals and dreams that you have on your list.
How long have they been there?
What's keeping you from making progress on them?
The time will pass anyway.
Make it count.
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