Simplify

"We have traded effectiveness for busyness."

- Bishop T.D. Jakes

What are you doing this week? Are you in the midst of working through the lists of all the things you want to accomplish?

I am a fan of lists and I use them. Yet, I have an objection to lists when the items on them become more important than what is happening in the moment. I have missed out on many great things in the moment because I prioritized another item on a list. I was focused on the things I believed I HAD to do rather than the things that allow me to feel fulfilled and joyful. From that point of view I began to resent the things I had to do... and that made those things unbearable to complete. Does that sound familiar?

That was the old me, and it can be the old you.

The new me allows flexibility. "Being busy" was stealing my joyful life away and being flexible has given it back.

Now, I am NOT saying to stop doing the things you HAVE to do (although it may be worth exploring who made the decision around that priority - believing we HAVE to do something may mean we've given up choice in our lives, but that's a whole other blog entry). What I am saying is to consider a reset to your priorities. If some unique opportunity comes up that you would like to experience... do it. Be flexible and let your list item be damned for the moment. You can always come back to it.

Here's the other thing I've taken into my practice. It goes beyond prioritizing my lists:

Eliminate from the list the items that have the lowest priority. Erase them entirely. Seriously erase them. They shouldn't physically appear on the list any longer.

I can hear you asking, "What's the point of that?" and saying, "Those things still need to get done."

Even the lowest priority items can chain you into just remaining busy. Eliminating them doesn't mean they wont get done. They will likely end up a higher priority on a future list, in fact you can create a list of "future priorities." Removing the low-priority items entirely makes my list more manageable. I am more effective in my ability to ensure the remaining items are done in a way that ensures quality.

Finally make sure you have on your list things that you WANT to do. Add fun items and do them. Your list doesn't have to be all work and no play.

Find the balance.