YO MONDAY BUZZ OFF!
By Hannah Brencher
As someone who
deals with anxiety, I can attest to how hard it is to get started some weeks. I look back on some weeks this year and think, "Wow, I was productive and awesome. I really kicked butt!" And then there are other weeks where I feel like I can't account for the hours or the projects I did. These weeks crush me a little bit. They make me feel deflated and hopeless.
But friends, we have a new week
ahead of us. It's time to begin. What better opportunity than right now to give a little refresher on how to make the most of the next five days:
1. Make a task list: I mean it. Seriously. If you haven't made the task list yet then get started. Include everything on this list. Little things. Big things. I promise you, your brain will feel better and more organized when you get all
the junk out of you.
2. Sculpt your Must-Do list: The hard part is already out of the way! The "Must-Do" list exists within the task list you just created. It's easy to get super stressed when you bunch time-sensitive tasks with everyday tasks. Pull out the important tasks that have to get done and start there.
3. Say no: At least once or twice this week. Yes, you want to be able to do everything. No, you can't actually do it. Don't set yourself up for burnout. Remember to give yourself time to rest. Say yes to things that make you feel alive. Say no to the things that fill you with guilt and dread.
4. Go for the
intervals: This is exactly how I get my best work done. I set a timer for 25 minutes and I cut out all distractions. When the timer rings, I set it up for another 25 minutes. When I have completed 2-3 rounds, I take a short break. Breaking up the time I spend on the screen or completing tasks is vital to me. It makes me more productive and it's fun to race against the clock!
5. Schedule
in time to simplify: Simplifying your life doesn't happen all on its own. I make blocks of time in my planner to hack away at certain areas of my life and try to simplify them for the better. I am not afraid to dedicate an hour to simplifying my inbox or 30 minutes to simplifying my budgets. Taking this time now helps me relax later and not worry about all of the important areas of life getting too cluttered.
6. Make people your priority: I recently started including "relationships" in my planner. I am trying to hold myself to a small task every single day that helps strengthen my relationships. A few of the things on the list this week: Send Erika a housewarming card. Send Anna an encouraging email. Return Carol's phone call. I never regret the time I spend on others!
7. Be kind to yourself: Each one of us needs the reminder that we aren't superhuman. We are simply human. We are all doing what we can and that is perfectly okay! Be good to yourself and remember: you're doing what you can. Let God handle the rest. It's going to be a good week!
Cheering you on as we go! tying you closer than most,
hb.
