| Your mind is whirling around in a thousand directions. | | | | good. We need to honor the fact that we're not |
| You have a million things to do, half of which you | | | | alike and don't need to be. |
| don't even want to do, and you have no idea where | | | | So once you've got your list, you can start to glean |
| to start. Sound like you on any given day? Would | | | | your priorities. The very top of the list should be self |
| you like to change that scenario and lead a more | | | | care. This means attending to your physical, mental, |
| balanced and stress-free life? Try the following | | | | emotional and spiritual health. |
| process that will lead you through establishing | | | | How can you make sure you're taking care of |
| priorities and values and then creating your life | | | | yourself? Make another list. |
| schedule around those things. And remember, life | | | | Here's mine: |
| balance is not a destination; it's an ongoing process. | | | | Regular check ups |
| There is no way to have everything completely | | | | Exercise 6-7 days a week |
| balanced all of the time. But there's nothing wrong | | | | Eat mostly vegetarian diet and watch the sugar |
| with trying. | | | | Write in journal or meditate daily |
| First, get your priorities straight. Your first and | | | | Laugh daily |
| foremost priority should always be YOU. If you are | | | | Regular visits with Nature |
| not taking care of your health and well being, | | | | Add items to my gratefulness list daily |
| physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually, then | | | | 8 hours sleep every night |
| you cannot fully engage yourself in the rest of your | | | | 1 hour me/quiet time every day (I can just sit quietly |
| life. I fully understand that you have a job, kids, | | | | or read or anything I want - even take a nap) |
| college classes, lawn mowing, snow shoveling, dinner | | | | Again, this is me (and because it's a balancing act, I'm |
| making, leg shaving, working out, calling your | | | | not always able to follow this perfectly - but I try). |
| mother-in-law and dusting to take care of. Not to | | | | Your's might include going for a regular massage or a |
| mention the book you started reading last summer | | | | weekly trip to the mall or who knows. |
| and that art class you've always wanted to take. I | | | | Now that your self care list is done, you can sort |
| also understand that in this day and age, there is a | | | | through the rest of it and see how you can honor |
| sense of urgency about everything. It seems like we | | | | those priorities in your daily life and how they fit |
| have to have all the things we want immediately and | | | | together. If it's something really important to you, |
| have everything done at once. If you want to have | | | | make time for it and spend that time sincerely |
| a more balanced life, you may have to let go of that | | | | devoted to it. If you feel you can't make time for it, |
| sense of urgency and realize that the world won't | | | | maybe something in some other area of life needs to |
| end if the dusting doesn't get done, and if you don't | | | | be sacrificed. I would much rather practice drawing |
| possess everything you want right this minute. | | | | than dust. And if I have visitors, I think they would |
| So, what are your priorities? YOURS, not the ones | | | | be happier to see my drawings than my freshly |
| you think you should have, but yours. At the end of | | | | dusted coffee table. |
| the day, at the end of your life, what are you going | | | | Look at how many hours you have in a week. How |
| to want to be remembered for? Being a wonderful | | | | much time do you spend on things that are |
| parent, a go-getter CEO, having the best pair of legs | | | | absolutely necessary like work and sleep and such. |
| in the county, an author of inspiring articles, a person | | | | What's left? Now start rationing it out. The more |
| who wasn't afraid to try new things, a marathon | | | | important priorities get first dibs. If you run out of |
| runner? What? Make a list. | | | | time then you either give something up or budget it |
| Here's mine: | | | | in by taking time somewhere else. Make sure you're |
| Loving mother and grandmother | | | | being realistic. Another good idea is to find ways to |
| True friend | | | | share some of the daily tasks that you have to do |
| Loving mate | | | | with friends or your Significant Other like shuttling the |
| Published author | | | | kids to practices and picking up the dry cleaning. |
| Creative garden designer | | | | Be creative when thinking of ways to make things |
| Artist | | | | easier and use your precious resource of time more |
| Kind and generous person | | | | effectively. Just remember, in the big picture of your |
| Lived life on her own terms (I wear a skull and | | | | life, some things just aren't going to matter all that |
| crossbones belt on a regular basis that raises | | | | much. Then there are those things that are a really |
| eyebrows and makes me laugh) | | | | big deal. Find out what they are and honor them. |
| That's how I want to be remembered. Your list might | | | | Most of all, honor YOU. If you are taking care of |
| be completely different and that's OK, in fact it's | | | | yourself, the rest will fall into place. |