This evening I received a wonderful email from someone who read my book, Along Came a Leader: A Guide to Personal and Professional Leadership. It is always awesome to get a message like this, and this email from Devon asked a great question.
“What measures can I use to prioritize the dozen areas of my life I am passionate about? There are so many projects in which I long to go full speed ahead. However, I have only so much gas and horsepower.” ~Devon
This was my reply:
A balanced life? Hmmmm…
I wish I knew that secret but I will share some of my thoughts on this.
I keep a journal. It helps. I track some basic daily habits in a grid.
I write down my goals for the year. I write monthly goals as the months arrive.
I have a daily to-do list of a few items.
There is honestly always leftovers.
I review my goals often.
The problem I have noticed is that some years my goals are the same as the previous year.
That is when imbalance is necessary.
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When you want something so badly you prioritize it beyond other areas of your life.
Bodybuilders do this and that is why they look so freakishly awesome. They devote the majority of their day, every day, to fitness. Imbalance.
I do this with writing sometimes. I put everything else on hold (within reason, never family or health) and wage a full, all out siege until the project is finished. I can’t do this every day because other areas would suffer, but sometimes it is necessary.
I think it is important to take the area of our life which has greatest need and focus daily habits to that without surrender.
Then I think you look at your week. On Mondays and Wednesday my priority project will be X and on Tuesday and Thursday my priority project will be Y.
Be kind to yourself. Take your time. You will make it.
One major project a year can be life changing.
Don’t sacrifice your health or family for any goal or project though. I know you know this.
I’m like you. I have dozens of interests. It’s hard. Try to pick a couple to be awesome at, and make a contribution to the world.
Settle for good or okay on the others, or save them for another part of your life.
Having an accountability friend can be helpful. Check in with someone to make sure you have progress.
What do you really want? It can’t be a dozen. Number them in priority. Get clarity on what you really want.
I hope these words were helpful.
Thank you for reading my book and contacting me.
Check in with me again sometime.
Always forward!
~Kelly
Order Kelly’s books, Along Came a Leader and Unthink Before Bed: A Children’s Book on Mindfulness for your personal library.
Educator, Author, Keynote Speaker
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