“The key is taking responsibility and initiative, deciding what your life is about and prioritizing your life around the most important things.” —Stephen Covey
Some days we all feel like we are chasing after multiple rabbits at the same time and trying to catch one of them. “The man who chases two rabbits, catches none,” is a Chinese proverb that makes a lot of sense. When we cannot focus on the goal at hand, it is hard to achieve anything. How many times have you felt like you worked all day, but don’t know what you have gotten done? I know I have many examples of that in my own life, being overly busy, and yet feeling like I haven’t accomplished all that I need to. I may have worked out, but my training was rushed and weak. I may have worked for nine hours, but I still have things at the top of my pile that need to be done the next day. I may have felt like all I ever do is pick up after other people, but there is still a pile of my clothes that are sitting on the bean bag in my bedroom that need to be put away.
So, what do we do about this? I used to use a Franklin Covey day planner that has tips and quotes from Steven Covey in it. One of the most important tips I always remember (although sometimes forget to put into practice- thus the scenario mentioned above) is, “the key is not to prioritize what’s on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities.” Our health and wellness is hopefully, for most people, one of their top three priorities. You can’t take care of your family if you don’t take care of your health. You can’t accomplish everything that you may want to in your career if you don’t have the energy or stamina to give your full attention to your work. One of the best things about my work is that I get to connect with people on a one-on-one basis and help him or her make positive changes in their life, so if I am distracted by my “to do” list, I not only am robbing them of the focus they deserve, I’m robbing myself of one of the things I enjoy most. If your spiritual life is also one of your top priorities, again, remembering that your body is a temple is helpful to have the connection to spirit that you are seeking and making time to practice your beliefs. If your fitness is a priority, make sure you make time to schedule in your daily training. If your overall health is important, make the time to prepare clean, healthy meals. If finding work-life balance makes it on your list, make sure to schedule time for massage, yoga, hot baths, or getting out in nature. Your wellness truly is not a luxury, it’s a priority.
Liz Jones is a wellness professional in Rockwall, Mesquite, Wylie and surrounding areas. She is a writer, certified yoga instructor, personal trainer and wellness coach. She holds a Master’s Degree in Organizational Leadership and Strategic Management, with a graduate certificate in Ethics and Leadership. Her undergraduate studies included communication, business, writing, art, fitness, and dance. Liz Jones can be reached at: [email protected].