I liken the benefits of being efficient to running a marathon. Marathon training is banking endurance to make the future race day go as smoothly as possible. Is it fun to do the training? Not at first. It can be rather painful and can take a lot of mental fortitude to get things moving along. But in time the pain lessens as we become stronger. The running becomes a sort of meditation. Does this guarantee a perfect race? No. But that day will have been invested in to the best of one’s ability; come what may. This provides peace of mind and ensure no regrets in the outcome.
I’m a fan of creating lists as you may have already realized from some of my posts. I jot down things I need to get done on an index card as soon as they arise. When I wake up at 5:30 I make my bed, tidy my room, feed our labrador Bella and make coffee. I then get back into bed. Yes, back into the bed I just made. I find this so pleasing in the quiet of the morning. I snuggle back in. Over sips of warm coffee I go over emails, check the weather and pay any bills needed. I also write down the things I need to get done in the day ahead as bullet points on an index card. Old school I know, but this can be done on an iPhone if you like. Writing the item down acts as a place card and absolves my mind of the immediate responsibility of remembering the task. Every time I put an item on that list I free up valuable mental space. It's ridiculously simple but fundamental to long-term peace of mind.
The next day: tidy, bed, Bella, coffee, I transfer anything remaining on the list from the day before and add it to a new index card. This is an on going habit and it acts as a sort of daily stewardship maintenance. Merely planning to do tasks on a list will not lead to completion. The next step must be to actually complete the task, that one is on the list maker. The habit of being efficient is an act of gratitude. It is being grateful for what you have, the life you have been given and attending to it with attention and conscientiousness.
Our lives are multi-faceted.
Daily Efficiency - grocery store, bank, doctor appointment.
Daily Nourish Efficiency- make good choices, exercise, get sufficient rest.
Daily Acorn Efficiency - squelch impulsive purchases, save, create college fund.
Daily Nest Efficiency - tidy messes, declutter, donate, clean.
Daily Giving Efficiency- give time, give money, give encouragement, give a hand, give a smile.
Daily Self-Love Efficiency- speak kindly to yourself, forgive yourself, care for yourself.
Daily Worldly Efficiency - be kind, speak in love, keep learning.
This list of course can be structured and tailored to each individuals life goals
Life takes maintenance if it is to run smoothly, trust me I gave a good go of the alternative. Letting the important parts and even the small parts of life unravel and pile up will soon feel hopeless. It simply becomes overwhelming living in what can quickly become chaos. When my first marriage abruptly came to a close. I was on my own with three very small children. I struggled to make ends meet emotionally and financially. Though some single moms rise to the occasion holding three jobs, dispensing regular wisdom and staying both hopeful and grateful, I was not one of these moms. I was terrified, fully preoccupied with surviving. I was not a focused parent. Poverty bred chaos. Chaos produced enormous stress. It was like treading water in an ocean with precious children in your arms. The overwhelming stress made it impossible for me to think straight and make a plan towards peace.
But life can can turn on a dime. I met Brent and his love and direction helped me to shore. My home will always be wherever Brent is, he is the love of my life. We are partners working towards the best for ourselves and our family. In light of my wealth, by this I mean the love I give others, the love I receive, the love I now give myself and the life I have with my family, I have no excuse for disarray.
When I look around and see people struggling with addiction or homelessness or poverty I am reminded that I am so very grateful for the life I have. I require good stewardship of myself. In turn I am rewarded with peace of mind. The fact is the more you organize the less you will need to organize. Life goes from 'reconstruction zone' to a simple maintenance of that zone. Things get easier once the hard work is done. Tidying daily takes far less time than sorting out years worth of life’s happenings. Saving now for a kids college fund takes less financial burden than taking loans later. Eating healthy daily is far easier than a triple bypass. Loving yourself now is far better than the grief of of never having done so at all. This is broad sweeping efficiency.
Create a list of goals both short-term and long-term.
Put check marks next to the things you complete.
Don’t beat yourself up for the things you don’t.
Tomorrow is a new day, life is cumulative.
Wonderful post sweetie!
Oh great! Thank you for reading and sharing!
I shared. Now need to follow suit.