Making Yourself A Priority!

by Mindy Irish

I was invited to begin writing a column for a local magazine called "Hamilton County Family"!  The name of my column is called "Fill Your Bucket" with the theme of how to make yourself a priorty.  Below is the debut of that column from the March/April 2012 issue.  Enjoy!

Laundry, check.  Bills, check.  Your 8-to-5 job, check.  Volunteer for the PTO event, check.  Team Mom, check.  Groceries and dinner, check.  What’s missing?  YOU are!  You give and you give and you do such a wonderful job taking care of your family, friends, and commitments, but what about you?  You made it to all of those events, sort of.  Maybe you were tired, distracted or overwhelmed by the thought of all the responsibilities that you have on your plate right now?  How can there ever be any time “leftover” for you?

There will rarely be any “extra” or “leftover” time for you.  You have to get used to going first.  Did I just say that?  Yes, ma’am, you get to go first!  I’m going to give you a makeover.  It’s not about hair, clothes, and make up.  It’s about focusing on how you structure your day, use your time, set your priorities, and give yourself permission to make the list.

If you’ve flown in an airplane, you’re familiar with the directions the flight attendants give for emergency situations.  They specifically address those that are traveling with children.  Their instructions say, “The oxygen masks will drop down from the overhead compartments and you need to make sure to put it on yourself first.  Then, once you are stable, put it on your children for their well being.”

Agreed!  It’s become my life mantra to “take care of you so you can take care of others.”  However, unlike in the airplane, we don’t want to wait until an emergency hits to put ourselves first.  We’re changing that mindset right here and now.  I am officially giving you permission from this day forward to put yourself on the list….at the top!  That means all-things-you get to be a focus and then the rest of your priorities will fall into line.  All parts you make the list in the You spot for the day, every day.  That includes the physical, emotional, spiritual, and mental you.  Sounds selfish, but it’s really not!

So how do you even begin to do that when you have this at that time and he has to be there and she has to have this?  It encompasses a lovely word called balance.

I love being in balance.  All four parts of me are taken care of and the day flows so well.  Things are organized, I get tasks on my priority list accomplished, I’m at peace, I have time with my family, and I can manage any hiccups or surprises, big or small, along the way. 

But when life is out of balance, it gets tough.  Frustration arises, my vision gets foggy, and self doubt sets in.  How in the world can I make progress towards my goals in that state and condition?  It starts by realizing that we aren’t and never will be perfect, but we’re a work in progress.  If I’m off balance, it’s possible my priorities are off kilter and now I’m taking steps backward, not forward.  Have you been there or are you there now?

Balance for me is achieved with a combination of setting goals based off my priorities, using a daily to-do list to work towards those goals, and most importantly, keeping in line with the higher calling that is placed on my life.   Peace, progress, and results are the effect of that wonderful combination!

One of the group exercise instructors at the Fishers YMCA encouraged the class recently, “Quit putting so much on your to-do lists!  Slow things down and focus on what really matters in your life.”  It’s the secret of turning up my filter and focusing on what’s in line with my priorities that keeps me moving forward and being able to be the best me possible, inside and out.

It’s become a priority to make myself a priority each and every day.  The outcome is then I’m in balance and I can effectively get to the rest of all that I’m called to do, care for, and accomplish in life.  It’s a conscious daily effort made with diligence and self discipline to stay the course, but it is doable! 

Are you ready?  2012 is going to be YOUR year!  Watch this column for tips and ideas on how to live your life big on purpose and with intention rather than on autopilot.  Stay updated with challenges on my website fitgalclub.com, on Facebook at the Fit Gal Club, and on Twitter @fitgalclub.  Hats off to the new you….a priority now at the top of your list!