Have you ever had so much to do that you just sit there thinking of what to do first? For many of us, we have trouble sleeping because we are racking our brains of everything we have to do the next day, appointments, deadlines, errands, the list goes on. Sometimes it can feel so overwhelming that we don’t know where to start.
Priority Mail- A Message About How To Prioritize Your Daily Life
Adding on depression or anxiety, catastrophic life events like divorce, loss, or unemployment can make all these daily chores seem insurmountable! So how can we get through the day, each and every day with what seems like not enough hours? Prioritize…
"The key is not to prioritize what’s on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities.” –Steven Covey
Some things are going to have to be pushed on the back burner. We cannot do everything every single day! So make a list of what needs to happen this hour, this day, this week, or even this afternoon. What can take a back seat, what takes a lot of time with a lot of detail attached to it? Checklists are an amazing thing.
I, with the “Type A” personality need to have all my ducks in a row and if they are not, it can feel like my world is upside down. So I have sticky notes. Yes, sticky notes. The more sticky notes I have, the more I have to do. I even have sticky notes in my bedside drawer so when I’m trying to get to sleep I can write it down and remember it the next day, and also giving my brain the sleep it needs and deserves. If you have the “sticky note bug” like me or something similar, then you may know how good it feels to check that stuff off throughout the day.
With this said, as you find a system that works best for you, allow yourself to not be superwoman or superman today. Do what you can, do it well, and start over tomorrow. Allow some time just for YOU to do something that you like to do- gardening, reading, working out, etc. – that should always be on your list of things to do.
Here’s A List of What To Do:
Use sticky notes or another system to keep track of your events and duties
Cross them off boldly as you complete them
Congratulate yourself for your accomplishments
Forgive yourself for the setbacks
Make time for yourself
Sleep well, you’ll need it
Do it all over again
Every day you will get “mail” in your “mailbox”. Throw away the junk mail, and make priority piles for the stuff that can wait, and the stuff you need to do first thing. See what a difference prioritizing your “mail” can do for you! There… today’s blog is done. I’ll be checking that off my list!
I encourage you to try these simple tricks to help you prioritize your daily life. Contact The Wellness Counseling Group to find out more about stress-alleviating techniques to use every day.