Monthly Mindset, August 2021: Prioritize
PRIORITIZE
With age I am faced with the harsh reality that I simply cannot be two places at once. As referenced on the pod, I often view various categories and responsibilities as buckets of water. I’m constantly trying to keep a steady balance; displacing water from one bucket to another to ensure I am spreading my water evenly. Over the course of time, it becomes clear that I would rather fill one bucket with more water than another, thus a choice ensues: do I disproportionately shift my water in order to satisfy new desires?
Our early 20s are unstable, and I sit here on the last leg of the “early” portion (yes, I am 25 which I suppose makes me a “mid 20s” guy, but let’s gloss over the details for the sake of the piece). Without the abundance of time we had in our youth and college, we’re faced with critical decisions each day on how we spend our time.
Think of the numbers you’re working with (gearing this towards young professionals, so if you’re in college or younger, here’s how it do be). You wake up and work anywhere between 9AM-5PM (at the earliest). Now you’re managing 7 hours to yourself. You got a significant other? Reduce time. You want to get a workout in? Reduce time. Cooking dinner or getting dinner & drinks with friends? Reduce time. Catching up with friends or family that live elsewhere? Reduce ya time.
At the end of the day, the time you spend is ultra-finite. Spending that wisely leads to living a full life, but the rush to spend it can overwhelm. What’s the proper balance?
This is by NO means a work-life-balance article (for the record, I am more of a work-life-harmony believer). This article seeks to detail the latest iteration of the My Monthly Mindset series. Per usual, I’m here to share some personal information about my life in hopes to positively influence those who choose to read. Here’s what I’m thinking for August.
I have an abundance of buckets to choose from. I’m trying to determine which of these I should focus more time and energy to. It’s a virtually impossible task, but again, with age, I realize it’s simply a choice I must make and not one to stress about. With everything swirling around me, I look to apply connective tissue to adequately link each responsibility, extracurricular, interest, and non-negotiables. Hence, August is made to “prioritize.”
What are the things in your life that are truly non-negotiable? How much time are you willing to spend doing those things? Understand that shifting thought to one bucket will neglect another. For example, in the past I sacrificed health & fitness for work. I ate Chipotle every day (no cap) and cancelled my gym membership replacing a full-body workout for what I dubbed “Coffee Curls” which were bicep curls I would do in the morning while my Keurig created caffeinated mud. Needless to say, my work improved but as a result, my body deteriorated. It was unhealthy, and I learned my lesson (my brother actually called me “gaunt” and that was my eviction notice).
Really try to distinguish the various categories in your life and emphasize the importance of each. We’re programmed to move so quickly that we often forget to take inventory of the things we’re actually doing. Believe me, you’re not a shark, them mfs have gills. You have the ability to look in directions that aren’t merely forward.
Prioritization doesn’t come naturally. Go through a couple reps to find a healthy balance and don’t expect to make it perfect. I wanna be the next Duncan Robinson but I don’t have 10 hours a day to get buckets. Gotta focus on my mind, body, and making enough money to take the girl I like out to exceedingly expensive dinners. I’ve found something that works, comment below with thoughts of how you’ll turn the page.
FYI: I was so close to going with the RPG character customization analogy but wanted to go with a broader appeal. Wanted to let you know I always go with the intelligence skill tree to talk my way out of sticky situations. Also, I’m always a marksman. If you get the ref, send me memes to confirm.