Why can’t I get things DONE?
Hi guys! Welcome to Episode 238 of the Wildly Successful Lifestyle podcast. We live busy lives don’t we? If you’re like me, you have big things you’re working on and big ideas and dreams, I hope you do anyway because if you have a dream and you’ve put it on the back burner, it will always haunt you and I don’t want that for you.
You’re listening to the Wildly Successful Lifestyle podcast for goodness sakes, what are you waiting for? Let’s do it, this is your message that it’s time to get serious about your life, stop waiting for things to magically happen and go out there and MAKE it happen. But sometimes we get ourselves all tangled up because there’s a lot to do when you’re making things happen, right?
I found myself feeling anxious this last week and I couldn’t quite put my finger on why. Now this next part may stress you out a little bit but hang in there with me, I’m doing it for a reason, I want to give you an idea of how we can make ourselves crazy.
I currently am in the middle of a few design projects and there are always things that come up with those especially when you’re tearing out old to make space for new but I’m kind of used to that, and I’m coming to the end of my life coach certification and I’ve already certified and the exam should be a breeze because I’ve done the work. I also have this course I bought on how to make money as a life coach that I really want to finish. Oh and I have my podcast and my Instagram posts and in the meantime I have to find time to prepare meals and make healthy food and exercise too. And I’ve spent a lot of money on those courses and certification so I should already be making that money back but I’m not yet and I have certain expectations from my podcast that I still haven’t met so how do I figure that out? And my website is being revamped. Where are they on that and are they waiting for me for anything? And I have 3 different books on my bedside table in a state of being read. And my husband has made some pretty dramatic changes too and I want to support him. Have I stressed you out yet? I could keep going but I think you get the picture.
I realized I have put so many expectations and to-do’s on my list that my mind is constantly thinking I’m behind and here’s the thing, when I look at everything honestly, I’m not behind on anything. I’m scattered. My brain has so many things to think about that it feels like none of them are getting completely done. Have you ever felt that way?
We think we need to be all things to everyone and we have to do it right now. When I’m really being honest. When I just stop and prioritize what I have going on there are definite things that I can set aside for the moment and then pick them back up as a priority once I’ve completed the other things.
There’s a reason why we love the Benjamin Franklin quote “jack of all trades, master of none.” I think it’s because it causes us to stop and think, what am I really mastering if I’m spread out too thin?
Can we be ok with one thing at a time? I know we think big and I know we think because we have big dreams we should be doing it all and doing it all right now. But that is the HARD path. That is the path to burnout and disappointment. So what do we do then?
Well you prioritize. For me my family and my mental and physical health will always be top of the list so that is a constant, I schedule that time every single day. I will take the time sensitive things on my list and schedule them. Life coach certification is time sensitive so that is also top priority. My 2k course is awesome but not time sensitive. That I will pick back up next week because certification ends this week. So That’s off the schedule. For the 3 books, one I wasn’t really resonating with so I’ll put it on the shelf, the other I will start once I’m finished with my current book, so I’m down to 1 book on my bedside table. That’s very freeing to me. I will go through the rest of my list and prioritize or optimize like meal prepping for the whole week on Sunday so it’s not on my daily schedule. You get the idea.
I feel better already. And it all feels attainable and organized now in my mind.
The best way to predict the future is to create it (quote by Peter Darmis) and the best way to create it is being intentional. Intentionally in a way that you know what’s important to you and you know the things that are most important right now for your business, your family, and most importantly yourself. Don’t forget that you have to be your number one priority. That’s not selfish, that’s crucial. And you might be thinking, easy for you to say, you don’t have kids. But I have a sister that I’m 18 years old then and because I am super diligent about making sure my mental and physical health is of utmost importance so does she and so does anyone in your sphere of influence. You taking care of yourself gives other people the permission to take care of themselves and they will because you’ve shown them what’s possible. Making you a priority makes everything better.
I ran into a friend that I used to always see at the gym before Covid and I asked her where she is working out now. She said she was going to these two other gyms then she corrected herself and said well I’m PAYING for those two gyms but I’m not actually using them and then she started listing the reasons and then she said so exercise got put off which it’s always the first to go isn’t it? I laughed with her but for me it’s such a high priority that it is not the first to go for me. And if it were high enough a priority it wouldn’t be for her either. We make time for the things that are important to us. We always do.
And one last thing. Your journey won’t and doesn’t need to line up with anyone else’s. That’s ok. Your gut, your inner guidance system if you really just sit down and give it time to guide you will tell you which things can wait and which things take precedence. Let’s start CREATING the life we want instead of settling for the life we’ve been handed.
My challenge to you today is go through your list of to do’s and cull out the things you can set aside that have been nagging at your brain. It will really clear the way for those things that are the most important to you. Those other things may be important but they can wait, you’ll probably master them sooner by setting them aside until next week then trying to fit them in and now nothing gets done. You’ve got this. One big thing at a time will get you much further than lots of busy activity that’s going nowhere. So do this challenge and let me know by email how it’s working out for you heidi@heididawson.com
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I love you guys, I’ll talk to you in a few days…
