Plan your day based on your values
As part of our Making Days More Joyful series, last week, we defined our values and posted them somewhere we will see them frequently! At least daily and maybe even in a few places, so we see them several times a day. Now we are going to take it one step further to become intentional about living our lives with these values as the firm foundation!
Each morning, spend just a few minutes planning your day. It's nice to spend some quiet time to review what you have ahead of you during the day, and this is a good time to check that your daily actions and tasks are aligned with your values. My husband recently recommended a good book to me, Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less, by Greg McKeown. It teaches you to look at your life and create a better life by only choosing to do and saying yes to the things that are absolutely essential to you. Your defined values are what you have determined is essential to your life!
You need only say yes to things that meet those values!
Anything else that you say yes to and allow into your life is taking you away from your values!
No matter how crazy life is, you are still in control of what you say yes to allow into your life. Look at the activities of the day and let go of those things that don't align with your set values! This will keep you from getting overwhelmed. This will keep you from burning out. This will help you be your best and do your best for what matters to you the most! And this will move you closer to your goals, whatever they are!! We haven't talked about goals yet, but they have to be aligned with your values. If they are not, then you need to ask yourself why they are your goals. But I get sidetracked. 😉
So, let's review. You have your values! You have them in a few places where you will see them throughout the day so they will remain on the forefront of your mind. Take a few minutes each morning to review your plans for the day and ensure they align with your values. If they don't, then adjust your day accordingly! We will keep our values in front of us, thus making our lives revolve around them! That is what we want after all, isn't it? Let's start defining our own life and directing it where to go!
