The value of making space in your life extends far beyond the space itself. When you release, let go, and move on, you open up more of what the good life offers. Make space for life, love, and happiness!
What Comes First?
How are you doing so far? Getting the hang of things? Everything I discussed in earlier chapters comes together here:
•Organizing your life requires a system
•Making space is necessary for organizing
•AND prioritizing is an aspect of making space
If getting it done is your goal, knowing your priorities and following through is the best way to achieve what you’re after. I’m taking for granted that you have the idea and you’re ready for the heavy lifting.
Whatever your priorities, be sure they’re in alignment with your goals. If they aren’t and you’re out of whack, you can always move things around and sync them up.
Now, don’t go criticizing yourself because of your priorities! A priority is something that’s important to you, and everyone’s priorities are different. It’s a personal thing. We prioritize for our families, businesses, and other relationships, and for every aspect of our lives.
Well, at least we prioritize in our heads. Have you taken the time to prioritize on paper? Really! It makes a difference in getting it done.
Your family might be the most important focus in your life. I know mine is. Maybe your career heads the list. Knowing what you want most will help you align what you do with your priorities.
If you’re single, you will probably have different priorities than someone in a relationship, with or without kids. Some singles focus on building their careers and others on shaving their schedules down to a four-hour workweek. Whatever your center of attention, there’s no right or wrong—it’s up to you.
You might be a relationship person. Which relationships are your priorities? Is spending time with your longtime friends most important, or are you into meeting new people? How about dating? Prioritizing will allow for balance and harmony between all the facets of your life.
So Much to Do!
At times it can seem like the world is crashing down on top of you. If you’re a mom, you have a major responsibility. In traditional families, there’s the house and a family to care for, unless you can afford to hire help. If you have littles, there’s school, as well as homework, doctor’s appointments, playdates—you know the drill. And if you’re a single parent, most of it falls on you, the chief cook and bottle washer.
If you’re a “momtrepreneur” and run a business, it can be especially hard to get everything done. I know this firsthand.
Between my travel schedule, webinars, and private coaching, I work super hard to keep my life balanced.
I have to keep things going at home while managing my professional life. Sometimes it seems like meetings, paperwork, communication, training, and education have to be squeezed in between other responsibilities. I won’t let non-priorities take precedence or allow my family to suffer because of them.
Even super important things can slip between the cracks if you’re not paying attention. Do what you can do and then somehow find a way to pick up the slack.
Learning to prioritize effectively will help you be more efficient by helping you get to the most important things first. It’ll save time, and in the process, energy. The bonus? LESS STRESS!
First, dig all of your priorities out of your head and commit them to paper. Even if you have a great memory, we’re working on making space, so holding things in your head is counterproductive.
Here are a few tips to help keep you aware of your priorities so you can place them at the top of your to-do-now list.
PULL OUT YOUR TASK LIST
As I wrote in the first chapter, making monthly, weekly, and daily task lists will help you organize everything you need to accomplish in each of those time frames.
I know you’re busy. I’m busy too. But you’ll be glad you took the time to do this exercise. It might seem unnecessary, especially if you’re used to keeping everything in your head, but trust me, there’s value.
Order by Priority
Identify the most important or urgent tasks on your list by using a number or letter system:
1.Most Important
2.Important
3.Least Important
Put the corresponding number next to each item on the list: (1) most important, (2) important, and (3) least important. Then rewrite the list in order of priority. Again, depending on your top priorities, family activities might be at the top of the list. Projects and errands might be next. It’s your list. If many things are equally important, choose randomly. What matters is that you get things done.
Keep your list accessible and visible. Use it as a reminder of what needs your attention.
Map It Out, Write It Down, and Dive In!
Goal setting. Hmph. Okay, I saw you roll your eyes.
LOL—I actually agree with what you might be thinking.
Goal setting is probably the most oversaturated topic of discussion ever. Does that mean it’s not important? Of course not! In fact, it’s probably the most important skill you can master, and that’s why I’ve included it as one of the thirty-one ways to release your inner boss.
Before we go any further, I have to say that if you’re not already setting goals—or not willing to set them, go right ahead and close this book. And don’t put it on your bookshelf either—get it out of the house altogether. Put it with that box of stuff going to Goodwill (remember, the one from your closet) or give it to a friend, and go back to your life as it is.
I’m being very serious when I say that goal setting is a skill you must master, because if you’re going to rely on blind luck to create your future, you’re committing to a life of confusion and chaos. You might as well pack it in right now. Without goals, your life will be no more
