Recently, I took stock of my life and realized that some of my important goals have been stuck on repeat, year after year, without making any real progress. These aren’t just minor goals; they’re things that could significantly improve the quality of my life, like creating a healthy living plan or organizing certain aspects of my business to maximize my free time.
My aunt has a saying: If something genuinely bothers you, you’ll take action.
So, this year, I decided to take action and trade the constant busyness of life for intentional living. It’s not an easy shift, but I find that it is essential if I want to live life on my own terms.
Here’s my two-step weekly planning approach:
First, I sit down with my planner each week and carefully plan out my schedule. I prioritize non-negotiables like work, my goals, exercise, and bedtime.
- Then, I slot in other essentials like meal planning, wardrobe organization, bill payments, and events.
- My calendar looks cluttered, but my mind is clear. I know exactly where I’ll find pockets of time for small tasks, when I can focus on more significant matters, and when I need to decline certain commitments.
My intention to be intentional doesn’t require that I perfect my approach to productivity. Instead, it requires that I commit to treating the things I want in life and the work needed to achieve them as top priorities on my calendar. They’re just as important as showing up for my relationships and work and won’t be pushed aside by less important commitments.