Full Up!

What’s your life filled with?  My life is filled up with so many things, people and places.  What I’ve realized is something you already know – busy can be a way of life.  When was the last time you didn’t have anything to do?  Our lives fill up with stuff, to dos, projects, priorities, dry cleaning, errands, the list goes on and on.

Going though life unconsciously and allowing ourselves to be pulled here and there can lead to emptiness and no sense of accomplishment.  It’s similar to sitting down with a bag of potato chips – before you know it they are gone and there’s no food value – you’re not getting anything out of it (except a few extra pounds).  Consider the following tips to be purposeful.

Tip 1:  Say “no”.  When someone asks me to do something, my first inclination is to say “yes”.  Stop that automatic response and decide if it is something you’d like to do, have time to do and are able to do.  It’s ok to say “no” to those activities and tasks that don’t serve you.

Tip 2:  Appointment.  Make an appointment with yourself, start with one hour per week.  Schedule it on your calendar.  Think of it as an appointment with your boss or most important client – you wouldn’t let anything get in the way of the appointment.  During your hour, take a walk, sit and think, pick up a random book.  Use the hour without an agenda – who knows what you’ll come up with!

Tip 3:  De-clutter.  Remove those tasks that are no longer important or can be done by someone else.  For a few days, or a week, make a note of those tasks you don’t enjoy doing, are repetitive or don’t add value.  As you go through tasks, ask yourself “to what end am I doing this”?  You may find many things to let go of.

Tip 4:  Phone.  Don’t answer the phone unless you have time to talk.  If you’ve ever called someone who has no time to talk, you know what I mean.  You might feel bad you bothered them or you may wonder why they answered the phone in the first place.  Either way, it’s no way to build a relationship.

Sub-tip:  When you do answer the phone and someone asks if they are disturbing you or if it’s a good time to talk, say “Yes, I was just sitting here waiting for your call”.  If they ask “Are you busy”? say “No, not at all”.  See what reaction you get.  Think about how it feels to give someone your time and full attention.

Tip 5:  Replace “busy” with “I have a lot to do”.  Having a lot to do shows you are in control of what you are doing.  That you are making choices about how you spend your time.  Being busy implies that your to-do list is controlling you.  Which sounds more powerful?

Tip 6:  Don’t be a bore.  Explaining to someone, in great detail, all the stuff you have to get done is only interesting to you.  Spare your co-workers from hearing the list.  It’s not impressive what you have to do, it is impressive what you get done.

What’s worked for you?  Do you control your schedule or does your schedule control you?  Share below so everyone can benefit from your experience.

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