A tried and tested strategy for striving

"Having it all" doesn't mean doing it all right now.

-Nicola Ries Taggart

 Several months ago I purchased a deck of Calm the Chaos cards. The quote you see above was the first card I drew when I opened the deck. It went straight on my desk and has been there ever since.

Little did I know at the time, the universe was sending me a big message. One that would take me a few months to learn. 

See, I've always been the ‘dive right in’ type. The gal who agrees to way more than she can juggle and even when it all gets a little too much, squeaks “I'm fine”. 

The truth is I always come out okay and I’ve achieved a lot of really great things this year, but what I've come to realise (thanks to starting my own business), is that this approach doesn't serve me well in the long run. While being eager, inspired and driven serve a very important purpose, I've stumbled upon many typos; navigated unnecessary calendar clashes; had far too many late nights and invested energy into ideas that truly weren't my best or led me away from what I really wanted to be doing. 

I've learnt that doing it all [at once] only hurts or hinders me.

The card you see below serves as a daily reminder to take on only what I can manage and function well with. It reminds me to ask for help. More so, it’s a lovely reminder to practise patience. There is no rush to achieve it all right now. All good things unfold in their own time. 

Sometimes, we are going to have to juggle a few things at once. But we don't need to do this all the time. We don't need to wear that “I'm so busy” mindset like it's a badge of honour. And, if we really must, then there's a better way to do it. 

Here's a strategy that I’ve been implementing the last few months to catch myself before I drift into striving mode and overcommit.  

1. At the end of each day, I make a mental note of what I'd like to get started on, continue with or do the next day. 

2. I get out a pen and journal, make two headings: ‘For me’ and ‘For A Mindful Mind’ and list the jobs to be done under each. *Disclaimer: Most items under the ‘For me’ list are non-negotiable (but that's for another time).

3. I review these two lists and ask myself these questions:

• Do all of these things really need to happen tomorrow? 

• What's the priority? If I had to let something go, what would that be? 

• And is there something here I can delegate or get help with?

And I can honestly say, this works for me. Setting myself a realistic vision of the coming day helps me to stay cool like a cucumber and less likely to give up sacred self care practices or rush those tasks that would benefit from a little TLC. 

The message is simply, slow down. You don’t have to do everything right now. 

Until next time, take great care.