It's easy to let everything that needs doing cloud our focus on the essential things. There are meals to fix, a house to clean, errands to run, bills to pay, yard work, school work, work-work! There doesn't seem to be a truly simple or easy way to get it all done. Sometimes you want to give up and let it all go. But that would mean admitting that you're not successful, can't keep it together, don't measure up.
The truth is that you really can’t do it all … at least, not all at once. Most of it is just distractions between you and your true goals.
Gary Keller and Jay Papasan, authors of The ONE Thing, offer a solution. When making any decision, they say to ask yourself:
Not everything matters
Goal-setting is not new. Every year thousands of people set goals, create resolutions, make lists, and define priorities. Sometimes, though, it’s easy to become caught up in fitting in, trying to live up to Instagram or Facebook posts from friends and family, or those PTA/PTO parents. When it comes right down to it, however, what’s right for someone else may not be what’s right for you and your family. What matters is what moves you toward your goals, dreams, and aspirations as a family and as individuals.
In each area of your life, try to pick the ONE thing that is most important. Prioritize getting that one thing done and don’t worry about the rest.
- Meals: if your family is busy and moving in all directions. Focus on keeping nutritious snacks on hand that they can grab heading out the door. If family mealtime is crucial to you, focus on ONE meal a week that the family is all at the table at the same time.
- Housework: define ONE thing each day. Do that one and don't worry about the rest. Eventually, you'll find you've freed up the time to take on the occasional deep clean, organization, or extra laundry.
- Paying bills: take one day to set up automatic bill-pay or some other online credit/debit card payment option so that you don't have to worry about the bills all the time. Then, the ONE thing merely is keeping that card account flush for when those bills come in.
- Consolidate errands so that you can make just ONE trip. Or, utilize online shopping and delivery to do it for you.
In each area that threatens to overwhelm your life, find the ONE thing that you need to do and do that one. Marking off your to-do list of ONE each day builds confidence and proves you’re succeeding!
If the ONE thing on your list is shopping for a new home, make that ONE call to your local real estate office and pass the job of house-hunting on to them.
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