*NEW* Moving to a New Platform for Courses & Programs
We’re moving all our programs over to a new platform - see this blog post for full details.
As an existing customer you qualify for a free upgrade.
To access your free upgrade please visit this page to get your upgrade link.
Welcome to Day 2.
Today we’re going to start thinking about what really matters. Those things that get forgotten or crowded out by the everyday chaos of life.
Choose Option 1 for the quick and easy version or Option 2 if you want to go deeper.
Here’s today’s Simplify Your Life Challenge…
Option 1 (10-15 Minutes)
Step 1.
Turn to a new page in a notebook, or open a new document on your computer or note on your phone/device.
Step 2.
Make a list of the things that matter most in your life right now.
Don’t just write what you think should be on your list – write what you actually do care about. No one else needs to see your list, and you can delete or destroy it when we’re done if you want. So take this opportunity to face reality and be honest. Don’t censor yourself – just write. Fast!
Remember to make your list about now – you can re-do this exercise any time your priorities change.
For example, your list might include some of these:
- My health
- Losing weight
- My marriage/relationship
- My kids
- My career
- My appearance
- My friends
- My golf swing
- My happiness
- My volunteer work
- My business
- My fitness
- My sex life
- My cooking skills
- My relaxation/time out.
Step 3.
Now go through your list and pick out your 5 top priorities.
These are the areas you want to focus on for the next few weeks. Don’t over-think this – you can revise or update any time.
Step 4.
Place your list where you’ll see it every day. Make multiple copies and put it in many places if you like – but choose your locations based on how personal the list is.
Ideas include:
- On a post-it on the fridge, bathroom mirror, your computer screen, inside your wallet
- Saved as a note in your phone
- Saved as your phone wallpaper and/or lock screen
- Taped to the outside of the shower screen, but facing in at eye level
- Inside your make-up/utensil/bedside drawer.
Make sure your list is somewhere you’ll see it every day.
Step 5.
For the rest of our 21-day challenge, we’re going to read this list daily, preferably several times a day. The constant reminder will help to keep us aware of making these 5 priorities genuine priorities in our lives.
And that will help us simplify choices about:
- How to spend your time
- What to say yes to
- What to say no to
- What to let go of
- Who to give emotional energy to
- Who to not give emotional energy to.
Option 2 (Extended)
For each of your 5 priorities choose a step you’ll take or task you’ll complete this week.
Now put each of these 5 items into your schedule for the coming week.
Take a Pic
Take a picture of your list, or of 1 item from your list that’s not too personal.
Post your pic to Instagram, Facebook, and/or Twitter using hashtag #21DaySimplify. Search this hashtag to see other people’s pics.
Rules
Rule#1: Don’t Over-Think
We are simplifying. If you find yourself trying to complicate this, then b-r-e-a-t-h-e and relax.
Rule #2: Move Quickly.
You can’t over-think or be a perfectionist if you stay in action mode. Keep moving.
Rule #3: Let It Go.
You cannot simplify if you’re determined to keep everything, hold on to every habit, and fight every change. Let. It. Go.
Check In
How do you feel about your list? Did something unexpected show up among your priorities?
Please leave a comment to stay accountable and to let me know how today’s challenge was for you.
I have let go of many things with the aim to focus on a few things at a time.
My top priorities are self care, healthy and well-being, relationships and work.
Our groups responses are: Ask the following questions & answer them for your Priorities: What must be done? What needs to be done? What should be done? What I want to do? What I feel like doing?
The things that matter in our life right now:
1. Self-Care = includes all health decisions you make to ensure physical & mental fit
2. Maintaining My Health = through exercise & following your doctor’s orders to include monitor your vital signs & take prescription medications as prescribed & follow prescribed diet
3. Attend Education Classes/Groups
4. Daily Household Routine
5. ME Time = 1 hour a day of relaxation
What to say yes to: medical appointments; attending educational groups; monthly or weekly social engagement
What to say no to: events of no interest to you; already booked; unnecessary actions such as repetitive responsibilities
What to let go of: duplicate of items not needed in your home space
What to give emotional energy to: a low stress organized life & exercise to release your stress
What not to give to emotional energy: Toxic people includes friends/relatives; things of no interest to me
My list includes exercise/fitness, gardening / make pots, decrease holidays decorations, organize clothes closet and organize office. I plan to spend an hour each day on each item. If life gets in the way, I will spend at least 20 minutes on some projects. Since I am retired, I think it is a workable plan, this is my job instead of punching a clock for 12 hours, 3 days a week, I will spread the work out daily, in addition to daily household chores, fixing dinner and errand running. Focus on the new job, spend less time getting involved in emails and game playing.
Priorities:
What must be done?
What needs to be done?
What should be done?
What I want to do?
What I feel like doing?
The following is our top five for me:
My volunteer work: leaving a legacy of organizational skills. Passing my computer skills on to my peers.
My happiness: being positive and living a happy lifestyle in order to succeed
My friends: being supportive of my volunteering and are there through thick and thin
My cat: my cat Sparkles is my daughter. Pets are wonderful as they give unconditional love. They are your children with their own personalities.
ME time: being able to relax at home for an hour.
I gave my top priorities names: Sexy Mama, Martha Stewart, RockStar, Super Woman, and Mother of the Year. My goals for Sexy Mama tomorrow is to rollerblade at lunch, Rockstar is to meditate for 10 minutes at work to re-focus, Martha Stewart is to plan what I’m having for dinner tomorrow, SuperWoman is to do my evening routines, and Mother of the year is to order gift for fathers day from a photo place- maybe start making a photo book- well see
1. See more of my Mum. 2. Do more with my family. 3.Get fit/healthy/lose the flab. 4.De-clutter the house. 5. Gardening.
truck load to Goodwill
I made my list easly. The relaionship with my parents was the most unexpected priority. I cheat a litle bit and I start this activity on day 1, because it was simplier and it will be difficult to thrown way things, but I already decide to take off two things of my bedroom with bad memories. The difficult thing is the tasks I have to do on each priority. I choose my tasks and one of them it will be to lunch with my parents and try to explain myself to my parents.
I have been struggling with the top five list, but after reading a few of these wonderful posts, I get it now. I had one priority about moving out of this apartment on the third floor, I see it can go under “My Happiness” I was over-thinking. A habit of mine. 🙂
When I start to over-think it is best for me to go with the template.
My health, filling out my Optimism log everyday. It is an excellent reminder to think and care about my depressive disorder. Everyday.
My relationships with my children, and to find others to connect with, such as this forum.
Getting a car. Time to start thinking about every dollar I spend. Put some away every chance I get, instead of spending 20 here and 30 there. You know how it goes.
My credit report. There is a major mistake on there, I must fix it, I will start with gathering papers connected to my credit report and updating it.
I have written my list in the notes part of my Optimism app, but I will find other places, especially wrapped around my credit cards!
Oh! and Google, great idea.
My first priority became a making a daily to do list for the next day before I went to sleep. My intention is help me organize my day and time so I’m not feeling so exhausted then hopefully I can squeeze or allocate ‘me time”. I even have simple things like make the bed. Something about making the bed feels like ‘clean’ and accomplished (plus it’s less tempting to get back into when I’m feeling exhausted!)
I think this is easier for me as I’ve had to make these choices already, due to fatigue I experience and facing the realisation that I may have increasing disability in the future, time is precious: my health, my happiness, my family, keeping my word, learning and activity.
This was harder than I thought it would be! But, I’ve checked it off! Yes!
Got my top 5, albeit with a general one that encompasses about 3 sub ones and they are on all my electronic devices which I regularly use throughout the day (paper is evil is my new mantra until my paper piles are sorted). The point I guess from this lesson is that it isn’t 20 different things and that there is focus.
Got my top 5, albeit with a general one that encompasses about 3 sub ones and they are on all my electronic devices which I regularly use throughout the day (paper is evil is my new mantra until my paper piles are sorted). The point I guess from this lesson is that it isn’t 20 different things and that there is focus.
The following is our top five for my group’s list:
My happiness = you need a positive and happy lifestyle in order to succeed
My health = you need to know your medical diagnoses, prescription meds you take and follow-up appointments with your medical team
Losing weight = Healthier for your body and will give you more energy.
My fitness = Exercise by walking every day and workout three days a week
My relaxation/time out = everyone needs one to two hours a day of ME Time. This is your time to meditate, read a book, listen to music, work on a craft project, you decide your ME Time.
Suggestions where to keep your list: Post-it on the fridge; inside your wallet or Saved as a note in your cell phone
How to spend your time: an hour a day for me; time for your pets, family, extended family
What to say yes to: medical appointments, attending groups, monthly social engagement
What to say no to: have no interest in, already booked
What to let go of: duplicates of items in your home space
Who to give emotional energy to: a low stress organized life
Who do not give emotional energy to: unkind people; things that don’t interest you