You Have To Clear The Decks.

It’s all very well and good making some changes to our lifestyle but if we don’t start to cut back on our to do list then we won’t reduce our stress. It’s that simple. Reviewing your priorities is one of the quickest ways to reduce your stress and re-establish your healthy boundaries. You have to clear the decks if you want lasting change and better mental and physical health in your life.

Journal Time!

We need to review every task we do and raise our awareness about everything we do and for whom. From phone calls, emails, appointments, shopping, chores, etc. Make a complete list of everything that takes up your time including: work, home, college, family, friends, other people, health, finances, etc. So it is time to get that journal out and answer some questions.

Get your journal out and ask yourself these questions in relation to each area of your life:

1. What is already on your to do list? You might need to track what you really do for a few weeks to find out exactly how much you do and for whom.
2. Why is that task really there? In other words do you, and only you, really need to do it?
3. Are you able to delete this task? If you can then do so immediately. If not, why are you unable to delete it? Be honest with yourself here.
4. Is there a task you can delegate to someone else? If you can then ask that person and let it go from your list. If not, again why not? Be honest with your self.
5. Can you hand a task back to someone who really owns this task? This might take some courage and a conversation but don’t put it off. Hand the task back to that person, your mental and physical health need you do right now. If you can’t hand it back again why not? Be honest what payoff do you get from keeping this task?
6. Do you ask for help when you need to? If you don’t why not? Don’t you deserve help?
7. What purpose does this task serve for you? If it’s your responsibility in work, college or home then do you need help with it? If it really isn’t your task or you have been left with a task that someone else is also responsible for, then why are you not holding them accountable? Plus what is your payoff for continuing to do the task?
8. Most of the time stressed people are also very busy people. You know the saying if you want something done ask a busy person. But being busy may not always be good for us or our mental health. It may also be a payoff for us to keep busy. Why are you keeping yourself so busy in the first place?
9. Are you avoiding something or someone? You might not even realize you have been doing that.
10. Go back over the questions above how did your negative thinking fair as you answered them. Did they bring up any negative beliefs or thoughts of guilt, etc? Are co-dependency, perfectionist, etc., streaks coming out?

Sometimes It’s Not All Sunshine And Roses.

Reviewing our priorities is a simply exercise, at least on paper. But when we stop to do this review we can find some answers we may not like. Or find something we have been avoiding. I talked about avoidance in a previous blog so do check it out. It is the one behaviour most stressed people have in common. Are you doing this? Be honest with yourself at least.

The whole idea behind reviewing our priorities is to reduce our to do list and in doing so reduce your stress. It will free up time to spend on activities that manage our stress levels. Plus give us time to spend on things, and with people, that are more important to us.

This Is Not A One Off Exercise!

It’s a good idea to do this review at least every month at the start. Then every 3 months at the very latest if we want to keep on top of our stress. If you’d like to complete a more detailed review of all the areas of your life then check out my blog on doing a mid-year review. Reviews can be completed at anytime of the year.

My Book.

Did you know I talk about basic self-care in my workbook The Building Blocks Of Self-Care? The steps in this workbook will help you lay the foundations to rebuilding your life, feel more in control and help you build healthy routines. You can purchase it on Amazon or here.