Get clear on your values and take action.

If you have been drowning in your to-do list or feeling bowled over by commitments and expectations, this exercise is extra important for you.

Simply ask yourself: What is most important to me? 

At this stage I don’t mean what on my to-do list is most important. I mean was is actually most important. Is it your family? Your self expression? Your spiritual practice? Your work? Your financial stability? Showing up authentically in your life? Being of service?

I realize that’s is a hard choice and that likely many of the potential “most important” contenders will seem interconnected and overlapping, but try to narrow it down to one top priority.

Remember, you can always reevaluate later. Choose one for now.

Next, look for the currently directly related pieces.

For example, if your family’s well-being is your top priority what other factors are directly related, right now?

Perhaps, right now, increasing your financial contribution to your family is directly related. Maybe, spending more quality time together, investing in each others interests, cooking nutritious meals, or finding ways to connect with each other in a more nurturing way feel directly related.

Now, look at your directly related list and narrow it down to two or three items that are top priority focuses that clearly support your primary important item. 

Choose the items that feel pressing and nix the ones that feel like “they would be nice” or “I should be doing that.”

Once you have your primary important item and your two or three directly related items write them down on a sticky note and stick it to the top of a blank piece of paper or next to your keyboard. 

This step is important so don’t skip it. It’s important to really make a special place for your primary important item and your short list of directly supporting items. If we leave all of the other ideas and options on the paper we will stay stuck and overwhelmed.

Now, write down everything that you are currently working on, keeping on the back burner, continuing to reschedule or say that you will do – but haven’t done yet, and are keeping on your schedule but not feeling very excited by.

Write everything down. Everything from exercise to work to volunteer to social engagements. Essentially, write down every little thing that has been floating around in your head and moving around in your planner taking up valuable mental bandwidth, time, resources, and energy.

Here is the key two part step: 

1. Circle all of the items on your list that do not clearly fit into your short list.
2. Gracefully un-commit from each circled item. 

This step may be hard. Resistance may rise up to fight. Do it any way, as best as you can.

Finally, look at your revised to list of to-dos and projects and create a real game plan for what’s left on the list.

Schedule regularly occurring tasks in a way that works for you. Some people love spreadsheets and Google calendars. I’m more of a colored markers and paper planner type of girl. It doesn’t really matter how you do it, just that you do it.

The final step is sitting with yourself and whatever feelings come up for you around this streamlining. 

I did this exercise myself, again, yesterday. It was a long overdue reboot and kick in the pants. While attending a monthly Hatch Tribe meeting I clearly realized that I had spread myself way too thin by committing to other peoples projects that were not directly related to my short list priorities.

It was super hard because a few of the items that had to go I really loved working on and were attached to projects that are the creations of dear friends of mine. Sending honest un-commit emails was gut wrenching. There were tears. Ultimately though, it was liberating.

Upside #1: I can now cheer on my friends projects with love and genuine enthusiasm and not feel like I am slacking or disappointing them by being slow to deliver on my promises – which is what overwhelm and misalignment tend to inspire in me.

Upside #2: Literally an hour after I sent the last few un-commit emails I received a few offers for opportunities that DO directly relate to my short list priorities. One of which will greatly help all of the priorities on my short list be attended to with more ease.

Seriously, answer to my prayers type opportunities were offered almost immediately. 

Had I not cleared the space in my heart, mind, and schedule I would not have had the space for those opportunities to come, or if they had, I wouldn’t have felt that I could take them on – even though they are perfectly aligned.

Getting clear and making space made all the difference.

Now, I’m curious to hear from you.

Bookmark this blog and then take some time to go through this exercise for yourself. Once you’re done, come back to the blog and let me know about your experience. 

I am really excited to hear how it goes for you!

I’d love to get a great conversation happening here, perhaps it can start with you.

Bonus points if you share this blog with an overwhelmed friend and encourage them to get clear with you. 

If the topic of overwhelm is one that you would like to learn more about please check out my friend Elea at Move. Think. Smile. She is the expert on overwhelm and how to move through it so that you can think more clearly and smile more. Here is the link to her website.

As always, much love,

Katie