What Is Important?

This past week I was talking with a friend who asked me this question: "How do you determine what is important enough to go on your lists?"

That is an important question, because knowing how to figure out what should get top priority and space in your brain is huge! 

And can feel extremely difficult to figure out. 

I have been mulling this question over for the past few days and here is how I determine what goes onto my lists:

1. Give it thought. Give some time to thinking about why or why not a particular task might need to go on your lists. You might want to give time to a particular task, but can only do so once a month. Think about it and how much time you would be willing to devote to it. 

2. Give it a try. Sometimes I will write down a task and even put it into my rotating schedule. After trying it out for a few days and thinking about why I wanted this particular task on my lists, I can usually decide if this is a task I want to keep or if it needs to be deleted. Or if my expectation for frequency was spot on or super ambitious. 

3. Give yourself a break. Consider who wants the task. Do you want it because it helps you achieve the home and life that you desire? Do you feel that society expects this particular task of you? Will you feel like others will think you are a good person if you do this task or do you want it because it pushes you in the direction you want to go? 

Sadly, there is not enough time in the day and our lives to do everything. That is a huge part of life - learning to make choices, sometimes between very good and desirable things. Knowing how you want your life to look and knowing what things make you feel alive and excited to greet another day will help you weed through all those possibilities of things that could go on your lists and leave you with those things that are truly important to you. 

Recently my boys found a blanket I had made for my husband when we were first married. I mentioned that I had made it and they both asked if I would make them each a blanket. I said yes, and then put together a plan to help me make them these blankets before they turn 18 and move out of the house. My goal is 5 rows. Everyday. Which does not seem like a lot, but a little bit, everyday, makes a HUGE difference. Some days I get to way more than that and sometimes I am lucky to get one minute of work done, but I have a goal and I am reminded that these blankets are something I want to do. I find random opportunities to work on them and my boys love seeing the progress I make. 

Whatever you are putting on your lists, let it reflect you and your life. You will feel happier and have more drive to push through the harder tasks, just because you know why they are there.