Are you overwhelmed with too many choices? It creates too much pressure when too many choices or to-do lists keep you stuck and overwhelmed.
I often feel this tug of war on vacations, between my over-functioning, type-A, highly ambitious side and my hobbit personality that says things like “second breakfast” and justifies not drinking enough water because “champagne has water in it.”
I vacation like I pack – I like options but don’t want to commit to anything.
I’ll download 5 books on tape, incase I want to listen on the beach. Maybe bring a paperback book, incase I want to read and not be connected to technology. I’ll download movies and TV shows, in case I want to shut my brain off and watch Parks and Recreation for the millionth time. Also bring my journal, incase I feel so inspired in the moment that I have to write about it.
Game changer
Fresh off the plane from my most recent trip, I have to say that I’ve learned to fully embrace this aspect of my personality and honestly – I LOVE IT.
My favorite way to plan anything is to block the time, figure out some options, and then see what feels right in the moment. In the last few months, I’ve taken this approach with my work, and I have to say it’s a real game changer.
Feelings of tension
When I try to over plan, or over schedule my day, I feel tight, tense, and like I’ve squeezed the juice out of the moment. I feel stuck, drained, and usually end up rebelling against myself by doing nothing. When I let myself get too loosey-goosey with my schedule, or too “go with the flow,” usually the work falls by the wayside and I start to feel anxious.
Daily vacation feelings
I guess what I’m really trying to say is – I’m going to live my life as if it were vacation. (BAHAHAHA! How ridiculous does that sound?! But really though…)
Conceptually, what happens when I plan a vacation is this, I’m carving out time and space to cultivate moments and make things happen. Whether it’s dive with sea turtles, watch a sunset on the beach, or take a nap in the middle of the day.
This type of planning is one of the only ways I can get things done in my daily life, and have energy left over at the end of the day. There are blocks of time for clients, blocks of time for the podcast, blocks of time for marketing, but first and foremost – I’ve added blocks of time for me.
I don’t always know what’s going to happen when I get there (which keeps it fresh and exciting), but I have an idea of what’s expected of me when I get there (which helps me feel safe and prepared).
Schedule for success
If you find that you feel bogged down by too many choices, try answering these three questions:
- How do I want to feel?
- What am I looking forward to the most?
- What am I avoiding?
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