“Bored women have immaculate homes.” <—I didn’t make that quote up and I certainly don’t know if it’s true for everyone. However, as I look around my far-less-than immaculate home, I see where it’s true for me. I’ve realized that if am devoting a large amount of energy to making my living space immaculate, then chances are my business, my relationships, and my well-being are taking the back seat. See, it doesn’t matter how busy I keep myself if what I am doing is not important for my long-term goals.
I like to organize everything I do into two categories: 1) Time Wasters and 2) Dial Movers. My perpetual goal is to always be moving the dial to the right, toward my Best Life Possible.
As you visualize your best life, what do you see? A fit body? A meatier bank account? Meaningful relationships? Opportunities to travel? A career you love? All of the above?
Now think about how you spend your time and ask yourself this very important question: “Is what I’m doing moving the dial in the right direction?” Once you sit down and put some serious thought into it, you might be surprised at how much energy you devote to things that are not dial movers. I was! After much time (years) deciding which tasks for me are time-wasters and which are dial-movers, I have a much better handle on where I place my energy these days. Yeah, I’ll scrub my bathroom and vacuum my floors and do my laundry. But as far as making my home immaculate, I just don’t see how that will move the dial.
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Here are some more examples from my own world:
Kristen’s Dial Movers:
- Restorative activities. Writing in my journal, getting lost at my piano for hours, and yoga… Some might say those things are unproductive. I disagree. Because when I’m done I am calm, happy, and clear-headed – a great headspace for concentrating on business and wellness.
- The gym. Showing up every morning. 30-60 minutes. 5-6 days per week. Because it keeps me healthy, energized, and focused.
- Reading. Every night I spend some quality time with my tea and Kindle. I choose books that teach me about business, human behavior & psychology, and wellness. One chapter at a time, I am filling myself with new, useful information.
- Media. Instagram, Facebook, Word Swag, Canva, Pinterest, blogs, e-mail lists, webinars… sharing, creating, learning, complimenting. All useful. All moving the dial forward. (Keep reading for the caveat, however.)
Kristen’s Time Wasters:
- TV. I haven’t gotten into Game of Thrones or Orange is the New Black. On purpose. Because I know myself and my tendency to get sucked into a show and lose hours of my life. (The summer I discovered Dexter I didn’t leave the couch for weeks.)
- Bookkeeping and accounting. Because I end up grumpy, stressed, and it never ends. SO, I will happily pay somebody else to do that for me.
- Grocery shopping. I LOVE grocery shopping. Like, too much. I love wandering around with my basket picking out produce, ogling the many flavors of nut butter, and daydreaming about recipes. I know. #weirdo. However, I begrudgingly force myself to only go 2-3 times per week instead of 2-3 times per day as I would like. Because, well, checking eggs isn’t a dial-mover for me.
- Media. Instagram, Facebook, Word Swag, Canva, Pinterest, blogs, e-mail lists, webinars… (Huh? Wasn’t this in the other category?) Yeah, these very useful creativity tools become time wasters when I can’t stop [scrolling, fussing, reading, clicking, watching, etc.]. I know when the line is crossed and it’s time to shut ‘er down.
- Gossip. I don’t want to talk about who is losing/gaining weight, or who is getting divorced, or who got fired. I want to talk about things that matter. Business ideas, philosophy, good book suggestions, the meaning of life, and so on and so forth… I really don’t care who was seen holding hands at Starbucks the other day.
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Your dial-movers and time-wasters will be different than mine. In fact, maybe some of my dial-movers will be YOUR time wasters, or vice versa. More power to you if you can stop at one episode of True Detectives. Know thyself.
Remember, if you want your life to change, you have got to start making changes. Big sweeping changes are not necessary; small tweaks to your daily schedule will do. Begin now and in a few months you will wake up and your life will be totally different!
What have you found to be dial-movers/time-wasters in your own life?
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no one has EVER accussed me of too much housecleaning!
Your creative space must be glorious as well! ?
no one has EVER accused me of too much housecleaning!