I always have a long to-do list. I imagine you do, too. I have a long list for home, my kids, for nonprofits I support, for building my business, for supporting each customer, etc.
So even though I give the advice, focus on the main thing. I often get irritated with it.
I mean, what exactly is the main thing in a sea of things? Is it feasible? What does that mean for me, right now?
Today – and I literally mean on this Sunday that I’m writing this – that means:
What is the most important thing for me to focus on in a specific category of my life?
Currently, I use the following categories to think about all the parts of my life:
- Spiritual
- Physical – Fitness and Nutrition
- Family – Husband, Kids, Parents, Extended
- Finances
- Career – working in my business
- Career – working on my business
- Home
- Education/Intellectual Growth
- Social/Friends
- Community
These are not necessarily in order of importance, and truthfully that is dynamic.
I ask myself: at this time, in that category, what is the main thing? What should I not lose sight of? What’s the load-bearing wall? What is the thing that, if removed, will cause everything else to fail?
The main thing in these categories on this Sunday are not the same things that they were last month or at the start of the year. Why? Because the world has changed. The people that make up these categories have changed and their priorities have changed. My thoughts have changed. The way that I perceive things has changed.
That can be the tough part in some areas of our lives. The main thing in my spiritual life is pretty consistent, but the main thing in my growing business is more fluid.
So, as I contemplate the main thing for these categories, I should be able to prioritize my to-do list.
Which of these tasks should I not be doing? Which of these tasks should I get help with or delegate altogether?
As I plan for this new week, I look forward to reviewing my massive to-do lists and telling some of the items on my to-do list where else they can go.
“You don’t have to go home, but you have to get the [beep] outta here.” – Morris Day
