Them time, me time, any time left?

-by Mindy Irish
School's back in session and our new routine is playing out.  With that routine comes the daily juggle of kids off to school, kids at home, business balance, workouts, meal planning and tracking, social time, and fun.  After my six-week fitness break that I had while I was renovating our home this summer, I have reappeared with a new outlook in many areas of my life.  Maybe you're ready for that, too?

In my "Fill Your Bucket" column coming out in the Hamilton County Family Magazine September/October issue, I write about "The Year of Me".  The interview I did and the words I wrote six weeks back could not be more appropriate for me now more than ever.  I, too, like my friend Danielle, am working on declaring a "Year of Me" in my own life!

It's my tendency to spin 15 different basketballs at one time.  When one starts to slow, I run back over to keep it spinning and then reappear to maintain the others.  Over time, all the spinning and running around wears me out!  It's part of who I am, but I need to keep myself in constant check to make sure that I only start, finish, and focus on what really matters.

Do you see yourself in a web of running around, too?  My friend Danielle shared about her "Year of Me" and how she cut out all the "extras" of life and really focused on her main priorities.  For her, it was her family and her wellness.  She took an ENTIRE YEAR to keep the focus, readjust their lifestyles, and narrow down her commitments.  I admire her for this and am thankful she shared her story!

Some of the best advice I ever received that rings through my head almost daily is, "Quit putting so much on your to-do list and start focusing on what really matters."  I say that to me often.  And now I'm starting to listen!  Because when we do listen, we can make progress on what's important to us and for many of us, that means making progress on how we look and feel inside and out...hooray!

September 2012 is the start of a new plan.  It's a plan of balance, focus, and weeding things out.  It's also a plan of being unscheduled in more fun "down and unplugged" times and enjoying the little things of life along the way.  With that comes the ability to filter and focus on what matters to me right now: my family, my fitness, and growing our real estate business.

So as you wind down your 2012, how are you feeling about what's on your plate and how you manage it all?  If you feel overwhelmed and frustrated about how "busy" you are, step back and remember that YOU are the one who sets up your day!  You are also the one who can say no to this or that, and you have the power and control over what you get to in a day's time.

If you're like me, you'll start to see that attempting to do less, with a focus on your priorities, will enable you to do more of what you love even better than you did before!  Cheers to us all as we embark on a grand finish to our 2012!