Someone once remarked that time was like a self-serve buffet table from which we make choices. To extend this thought, I would also suggest that we choose carefully from this smorgasbord of activities on life's table. After all, we only have room for so much. Here are five suggestions to ensure that your life's meal is a healthy one.
1. Don't over indulge. Most people take on too many activities. Their eyes are bigger than their plates, so to speak. Only take what you can comfortable handle without putting yourself under stress. Recognize that you can't do everything. Studies show that when given a choice between having fewer things to do and more time to do the things they are already doing, most people choose more time. They don't want to give up anything. Life, like a typical buffet table, has too many items to choose from. If you are already overwhelmed with what you have taken, simplify your life and get of the things that are unnecessary and bring little satisfaction.
2. Select the nourishing items. There is so much junk food on life's table that it's easy to pick the wrong things. Ignore most of the TV, computer games, mindless chatter and spam. Go for the items that will have the greatest positive impact on your life. The 80/20 Rule says that 80percent of your success, enjoyment, income and so on come from just 20 percent of the things you do. Choose those few, meaningful things that will have the greatest impact on your life. If you set personal goals first, you will have a much easier time identifying those items.
3. Don't choose on an empty stomach. Just as you tend to over-indulge when you are hungry, if you have plenty of room for more activities, you tend to take on more - without much thought as to their importance. We frequently overestimate the time we available have because we lose track of everything we have to do until deadlines rear their ugly heads. Make sure you have already reserved space for the essentials, such as adequate sleep, exercise, family and personal relationships and self-development on your planner. By scheduling time in your planner for those activities that you have already taken on, you will quickly see that there is little time left for others. Don't rely on "To Do" lists only. They tell you what you have to do; but give no indication of how long it will take you.
4. Choose a balanced meal. Everything in moderation should be the rule. Don't go overboard with a few enticing activities. You want to lead a balanced life rather than become a workaholic, for instance. So plan ahead. Determine your personal values, what you really enjoy doing, the friends you like to spend time with and make sure that what is selected and scheduled in your planner reflects those values. Not only should you set personal goals, you should also develop personal policies to live by, such as "I will never work on Sundays" or "Any decisions affecting my family will be discussed in advance with my family," and so on.
5. Make sure they're your choices. Don't be unduly influenced by well-meaning family members and friends who think they know what's good for you. What they like is not necessarily what you will like. Choose what you enjoy, not what you think others might like. People tend to have more respect for other people's time than they have for their own time. This does not mean you should be selfish. Just give yourself equal billing, and learn to say "no" when taking on a task would be detrimental to the health and welfare of you or your family.
Life has many choices to offer. To manage your time and your life effectively, you must make choices based on a well thought out plan, not on impulses or whims. If you don't, you may find your plate overflowing with other people's priorities, and time wasters that will have no positive impact on your life.
by: Harold Taylor
Article Source:
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/self_improvement_and_motivation/article_8209.shtml
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