How do you want your life to look? Who do you want to be if you are not already that person? Speaking for myself, I’m striving for a simpler life where I am not juggling so many things. A life where I’m excited to get up in the morning because I love what I do and truly appreciate and respect the people around me.
1.Plan
State your intentions for your life; what is it that you want to accomplish? Better yet, what is it that you want to leave behind? What is your legacy?
The best way to accomplish this is to work backwards. Write your eulogy. Stay with me for a second, I thought the same thing when I first heard it. But in reading Michael Hyatt’s book- Living Forward: A Proven Plan to Stop Drifting and Get the Life You Want; It makes perfect since. The eulogy is your end result and with any good plan executed properly, you start with the end in mind. Otherwise we are directionless and there is less chance of our goals being achieved. If you want to delve deeper in how to embark on this path, then I suggest you read his book.
2. Time
Make the time to plan. Sometimes we just have to stop and be still. Give yourself time to think and you will figure out a way to get what you want.
My kids were going to school miles from where I live. The commute was crazy to say the least. I was up by 5am, kids up at 6 and it was a rush to get ready. We were on the road by 6:45am otherwise we would be late. Traffic was always an issue, I was anxiety ridden every day and I knew the kids felt it. Once I dropped them off I had to find parking hop on the train and get to work- ON TIME. I did this for 7 years.
Every year it seemed to get worse-
I kept telling myself you are doing this for the kids so they can get the best education, but it was killing me. I was always physically drained, mentally exhausted and spiritually empty.
I started to plan and put things in place to change our situation. If I didn’t take care of myself, how could I take care of anyone else. So I switched the girls school closer to where I live, my husband now drops them off in the morning. I changed my schedule at work to leave earlier so I had enough time to get back and pick them up.
The kids are happier in the morning. I’m not yelling and getting frustrated, because they aren’t putting their shoes on quickly enough, it’s just a more peaceful way of being.
Taking it a step further, a friend suggested that instead of driving to work and taking the local train, which is cheaper, just take the commuter train straight…WOW! What a difference that additional change made. I gave myself an extra 30 min in the morning to actually pause, think and plan while riding the commuter train. Yes, it cost more- but my peace of mind is priceless.
What can you change in your life to give yourself more time? Really think about it, you are the designer of your life.
3. Relationships
You are the result of the five people you spend the most time with.
~Jim Rohn.
The energy people give off is real. If you feel down or off-centered every time a certain person is around you, distance yourself as much as possible. When I’m around a negative person, they don’t have to say anything. I just feel a shift in my mood and it can throw off the rest of my day, if I don’t catch myself.
When it comes to relationships, we are influenced by those closest to us. They affect our self-esteem, how we think and the type of decisions we make. Surround yourself with like-minded people. People who maybe a little further along on their journey than you. People you can learn from and are supportive of you and what you want to accomplish.
4. Discipline
Discipline is doing things when you don’t want to. By far, discipline is what I struggle with the most.
I have overcome some of my challenges by working to make the things that have to get done a habit. A lot easier said than done.
Introduce a new habit with one that you already have. For example, I know I need to drink more water. I drink on average of two cups of coffee a day – don’t judge me – so when I drink coffee I have to have a cup of water. Every time I eat a meal, I drink a cup of water- so far that’s five cups- I’m still working on the last three :).
5. Focus
Now that we have a plan, make time to think, have the discipline to work on our dreams and are around supportive people who want us to succeed. We have to focus! Distractions are never ending and come from every direction imaginable.
All I can say, because everyone’s life is different, I need a decluttered work space, no email or phone distractions, TV off, music on, incense burning, family fed and doing their own thing. Now, I am ready to work.
Another thing, sometimes you will have to say no when people ask you to do things if it interferes with your plans to get what you need to get done, done. It’s hard at first, but it gets easier over time.
Like you I’m working through my challenges and figuring things out along the way. What I’ve listed above has helped me on my journey. Hopefully it can help you as well.
