by Michael Mahoney
Life moves on, sometimes at a steady pace, and at other times it seems to speed up or slow down. It is important to make the most of each day and the time that we have, however, busy lives, commitments and routines often take over.
We often have to prioritize what we think is most important, or what others deem to be most important, and quiet time for ourselves often gets pushed back and gradually forgotten about. Most of us rush around doing things for others and to earn money and never have the time to enjoy the things that perhaps we need to prioritize to help our emotional and physical wellbeing.
Priorities constantly change depending on circumstances, and in response to the needs or expectations of others. For instance, when a young professional woman has a baby, her priorities constantly shift, from holding down a successful career and busy social life, to preparing for babies arrival, with everything that entails, including arranging maternity leave, future child care etc.
The hormones are also affecting her sense of identity, mood, sleeping and eating patterns, which would also then also affect her working day and social life. The expectation of the changes baby will bring, reduced pay during her maternity leave, whether she will want to go back to work, but financially she may not have a choice, and if she does the feelings about leaving her baby, and who will provide the child care, and costs involved with that. The young mum’s priorities will then all change as her new baby’s needs will be the priority and everything else that was familiar to her, will then take a back seat. How does she find time for herself?
If you cannot relate to this, you will have most likely had other experiences where one thing has happened in your life that has changed everything else, including short and long term plans and goals. It may have been an illness or accident, or the loss of a loved one.
Sometimes our perception of the right thing to do, and the pressures from others, and societal norms can dictate how and what we prioritize. Many people believe that it is selfish to put their own needs before others, however, if you do not look after yourself then you may not be in a fit state to help others, which can have disastrous effect on those most dependant on you.
How can you prioritize time for yourself, when you have a hundred and one things to do? It often helps to write lists, or a pictogram to make it more interesting. Start with the things that definitely need doing each day, and decide what can be handed over to someone else. Is there anything that you can actually totally let go of? Can you improve your time management?
Do you need to change your emotional response and beliefs in order to let things go or to pass them onto someone else? Often we believe we should be doing something in a certain way, which may be time consuming, when in fact we can make changes to improve life for ourselves. It is important to plan in time for yourself into your daily and weekly routines, and when setting longer term goals.
If you wish to discuss how you can prioritize your own needs in a structured way, then please contact either myself or my partner, Cate on 01925 658322 to arrange an Initial Consultation.
