I’ve had so many conversations with people who say things like…
“I don’t know where my time goes. I’m always running around. My schedule is jammed. I can’t remember the last time I actually did anything ‘spontaneously’ or ‘just for me’.”
“I literally don’t even know where this year has gone.”
What breaks my heart even more is when I talk to people about setting exciting goals and they don’t even know where to begin.
Like my friend last week… She told me of the dread she felt going to flip the calendar over to November, knowing another year had almost ticked by.
“I tell myself each January that this’ll be the year of change.” she said. “I’ll set some goals and do more of what I want. Before I know it, I’m getting kids ready for school, I’ve taken an extra shift at work and I’m volunteering on the fundraising committee again. Meanwhile hubby has his yearly golf trips, all booked in and is off to see a new personal trainer”
“I feel like I’m always at the back of the line and its never my turn.”
It’s like we get used to living on auto pilot. Accepting what is, taking care of everyone else first and hoping there’ll be time and energy left over for us. Of course there never is, and when you do get a spare moment your more likely to make a head start on dinner than roll out your mat for some downward dog.
Why is this happening?
One reason is that we rarely take time out to think about what we want to work on, what we want to achieve, what we want to change.
We aren’t intentionally creating our lives.
Think about it: when was the last time you thought about your dreams, wrote down your goals, created a wish list, or actioned a dissatisfied niggle.
When do you ever schedule your needs on the calendar first?
Many of us wrongly believe that our time will just come. That once the kids are at school, the renos are finished, the credit card gets paid off, hubby travels less, they employ someone else at work that things will miraculously get better.
Let me ask you, when has this happened? When has time, money and energy landed in your lap ready to be used?
The truth is, unless you figure out what you want and make time for it, it won’t happen.
We should continually shape our own lives. Moulding our days, steering our efforts towards what matters to us and what keeps us feeling excited and alive.
Here’s my challenge for you…
Schedule a 15-minute ‘dream life check up’ every single week. Put it onto your calendar.
You can call it a dream life check up (like I do) or any term that you want. Just do it. Give yourself a sliver of time to think about what’s eluding you right now. What you want more of? What you can’t seem to make happen.
Write it down. Your intention for life. Whatever it may be.
If you’re like, “OMG, I don’t know what I want! I don’t know how to set goals. I’m stuck. I don’t know how to do this stuff.”… allow me to inspire you.
Here’s a list of things you can consider in your next dream life check up:
Do you want to revive your career? Leave your job? Work part time? full time? From home? In an office?
Do you want to change your diet? Become vegetarian or Vegan, Eat Paleo, Lose weight? Quit sugar?
Do you want to : Have more money? Budget better? Earn more? Save more? invest in property? Sell things on Ebay? Start a business? Sell a business?
Do you want to move better? Touch your toes? Run a marathon? Learn to surf? Train with weights?
Do you want to develop a spiritual practice? Meditate? Worship? Pray? Visit a retreat?
Do you want to have more fun and adventure? Travel? Skydive? Rock Climb? Dance? Learn a craft? Learn an instrument?
Don’t wait until “your time comes” (whatever that even means) to live a great feel good life.
Live now. Focus your efforts. Prioritise yourself daily. And please, set aside at least 15 minutes every week to check in with you. You won’t believe what a difference this makes to your mood, to your energy levels, and productivity.
Living intentionally changes lives. It’s definitely changed mine.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to grab my yoga mat, layer on some essential oils and move in a way that feels good.
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