understanding of prioritization. Ask yourself if the item on the to-do list is a MUST do or WANT to do, and then quickly evaluate the motive behind doing it. For example, you have a deadline at work for a project that you have been procrastinating on for one reason or another but now it becomes a MUST and takes high priority on your list because you MUST complete it as part of your job. Meeting a friend for a drink or a movie would go toward the bottom of the list in priority that day. By controlling your list, you can create the space for the wants in your life instead of feeling you never have free time to fit those times in. Remember, this last step is to create a list of all the things you tackled that day so you can go to bed feeling accomplished instead of overwhelmed, thus providing a vital sense of well-being.
Next, we must ALTer the things we agree to say “yes” to. As previously mentioned, we sometimes pile on tasks out of obligation, the need to be noticed or because we feel pressured that we should. We must ALTER our thinking and realize we are the only person responsible for taking care of our own health and mental wellness. If it doesn’t directly fall into alignment with our motives and goals, we need to pass on over-committing ourselves. Learning to say “no” is not an easy task as we are left feeling guilty that we are letting others down. However, if we burn ourselves out for everyone else and their agendas, what is left over for our own goals? Ask three questions: what is the motive behind doing it?, what is the outcome? Who does it help? Examine each task before agreeing to take it on as this will help you make choices on how to prioritize it on your daily list. If we say “yes” to everything, we grow resentful and angry at others instead of realizing we could have been in control of our time. Find your own healthy balance between your meeting your own obligations, your desires, and helping others. Learn to alter your time by managing your priorities daily.