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Clay Nelson, Life Balance: Is There a Spring in Your Step?
Most people I know look forward to springtime, even those of us living in warmer, more temperate climates. As anxious as we are for the spring and summer months to arrive, however, spring and summer bring with them a host of new busyness, of stuff to do on top of our already extremely full and often chaotic lives. And this year is certainly no exception because on top of all the stuff we manage on a regular basis and the new springtime stuff, we also have the added stress of the economic meltdown and how it is affecting our lives and the lives of those around us! So how do we manage it all; how do we fit in what we are committed to doing and responsible for with all of the other “stuff” that the world throws at us and the “stuff” that we want to do?
Well, one thing I realized as I was looking at what I having going on in the months ahead is that all of the busyness we experience isn’t just about a day or an event, but rather it is the other “stuff” that makes life so hectic — the preparing, planning, and coordinating for whatever lies ahead.
For instance, some time back my mother-in-law moved to Santa Barbara from out of state, and the actual moving date was relatively easy, compared to the preparations that went into making the move a smooth one! There was painting to do, moving trucks to schedule, change of address notifications, packing, new telephone numbers, switching health-care providers, new job, etc. And on top of all of the helping and coordinating, there was still my responsibility to my coaching clients and family, speaking engagements, and my responsibility to take care of myself. I couldn’t just chuck all of that out of the window for a few weeks until the move was complete!
Now, while you may not be helping a loved one pack up and move across the country, most of you have a great deal of “busyness” — preparing, planning, and coordinating — going on in your life, too.
On top of your daily responsibilities to your work, your family and yourself, and on top of the chaos our world is constantly throwing at us, you may have:
» High school and college graduations
» Spring/summer sports signups and practices
» Dance recitals — costumes fitted, extra practices, pictures
» Weddings/Anniversaries
» Mother’s/Father’s Day
» Figuring out what to do with the kids over the summertime while you are at work!
» Getaway Planning
» End of school year sports banquets, parent day programs, parties
» Spring cleaning and lawn care
» Family reunions
» And any number of other things you need and/or want to do
So how cool would it be to actually enjoy doing what we do, to actually embrace all of it with a smile instead of a grumble? Here’s how:
First, in the midst of doing “it all,” don’t give in to the temptation to drop taking care of you! Don’t give up your workout time. Don’t give up your time to do absolutely nothing. Don’t cut yourself short because you don’t have enough time. Make the time!
This isn’t about your waistline either. Taking care of you, is a physical and mental release. It is an opportunity to get away from the hubbub and chill, which helps you stay focused and avoid becoming overwhelmed!
Second, have a plan! Have a written plan for what has to be done by-when. You’ll sleep better, you’ll be more focused in your efforts, and your written plan will also make it much easier for others to help you!
Third, don’t procrastinate! You know what I’m talking about ... waiting until the last minute to make your summer babysitting arrangements or travel plans! When we fail to plan ahead and then fail to put those plans into action, we set ourselves up for a great deal of stress and disappointment!
Fourth, accept the help that is offered to you! Better yet, don’t even wait for help to be offered ... ask for the help you need! If you really took the time to look around you’d be amazed by the number of people who want to help you, but don’t know how! I see it all the time ... folks with huge families and groups of friends all twiddling their thumbs (figuratively and sometimes literally) because the person they’d like to help thinks they have to do it all themselves! So give up martyrdom, all you super-humans out there, ask for the help you need, and then actually allow people to help you! Even the children in our lives want to help. Don’t treat them like they are in the way, let them contribute to you and you will contribute to them by teaching them something new.
All of the busyness we have going on in our lives doesn’t have to be a burden! As I review my list and plans for the next several months, I see a great deal of opportunity coming my way — in my business, my relationships, and my ability to make a greater difference — and I can’t help but be lit up. Yet if I allowed myself to be overwhelmed or burdened with all of the stuff that has to be done to take advantage of those opportunities, I’d miss out on all of the fun!
So what do you have going on in your life, on top of the normal stuff, that you are looking forward to ... that lights you up ... that can be fun ... that is a huge opportunity, but the planning and preparations are getting you down? Think about it and then I want you to: Get present to the fun and excitement that is around you, and take on the new challenges that the season, and life in general brings, from an outrageous and positive mindset. When you do you’ll see that the long list of seasonal to-do items are just a part of what it takes to get to where you are going, and you just might discover some fun along the way!
I’ve always said you can have anything you say you want, and getting it doesn’t have to be hard. Yes, our neighbors and even we ourselves may be having a difficult time right now, but in the grand scheme of things life could be much, much more difficult — look at the headlines about the tragic earthquake in Italy! As long as we have breath, we’ve got a lot to smile about, and as we move forward through the spring and summer months ahead, how you use your time and who you choose to be is up to you. So I ask, are you stressed out, overwhelmed and grumbling, being run by your “stuff,” or are you focused on the opportunities before you and having fun along the way? It is up to you to choose ... I choose fun, opportunity, and smiles. What about you?
— Santa Barbara resident Clay Nelson founded Clay Nelson Life Balance™ to provide businesses and individuals with what may be missing in their lives: purpose, personal and business planning, fun, effective delegation through team management, and accountability. Click here to download Clay’s complimentary e-book, The Balanced Life — How to Put Fun, Family and Financial Freedom into Your Business and Personal Life. Click here to subscribe to the free podcast of The Clay Nelson Life Balance™ Hour.
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