Many people find themselves in a situation where they can’t enjoy themselves because they are always thinking about the future or what needs to be done next.
Optimizing your life is about finding ways to organize yourself so you can enjoy your life instead of constantly feeling like you’re running on a treadmill. With systems, routines, and habits in place, you can learn how to have fun again because you have faith in your plans.
The First Law of Ecology states that everything in the world is interconnected, and if one area of your life flows well, it impacts all the other areas of your life. According to quantum physics beliefs, we can source and create everything in our lives. When one area of your life is going well, you can assume that all the other areas are too as a result.
If you want to maximize your productivity and enjoyment in life, it’s important to have a plan for everything. A close friend of mine told me her business started picking up with clients looking for her after she got serious about improving her health. Making physical changes to her body gave her an energy boost that helped fuel the growth of her business.
Close your eyes and imagine how much easier your life would be if you had systems in place to help you with basic organization strategies. This could include things like having a plan for how you spend your time, being more organized with your finances, and knowing where all of your important documents are. When everything is in its rightful place, it makes life so much simpler! Getting excited about this idea will help make it a reality.
Here are some advantages of organizing your life so it all flows together:
1. You’ll get more done. You won’t be stressing out over when you’re going to get to dishes in the sink when you’re trying to get work done for the day because you have systems and plans set for taking care of household chores as well as business responsibilities.
2. Everything you need to get done will get done. You’ll have time set aside to care for your business, your health, your family and your home. You won’t have to worry that you’ll miss something–because you’ll have carved out time for it all.
3. You’ll have more free time and mental space to be creative. Again, because you won’t need to think about one thing while you’re doing another which actually causes stress for many people. Schedule free time and “me time” in your calendar.
4. Your mental health depends on it. Living life without routines, without any sort of structure for you and your family, is incredibly draining (mentally and physically) and time-consuming. Setting routines allows you to go through some motions with little thought…it’s simply what comes next in the routine. Setting a schedule allows you to assign all the important tasks a dedicated time slot so you can be confident about finishing them all.
Let’s stop here for a moment so I can reassure you that organizing your life into routines and schedules does NOT have to be overwhelming! Consider this a work in progress. I know you’re excited about this idea but do not try to change your entire life in one day. Instead, take a few hours/days/weeks to work through each of the main areas of your life and put some simple, actionable routines and practices into place–and watch how everything flows better, faster and easier! And if a certain routine doesn’t flow well, it’s in your power to make some changes.
Remember these basic principles for general life organization:
1. Find a to do list system that works for you. Do you use a basic planner or bullet journal? Clickup? Asana? Trello? Notion? Todoist? A master paper or Google Doc to do list? Pick the one that works for you.
There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, as the best to do list system for you will likely vary depending on your specific needs and preferences. Each of these tools has its own strengths and weaknesses; for example, a basic planner can be helpful in keeping track of multiple tasks at once, while Trello is perfect for managing large projects with many collaborators. Ultimately, the best to do list system for you will depend on your individual needs and preferences.
One of my clients would do a brain dump every morning and list every single little thing she could think of that needed doing for the day.She then assigned each item a time limit, such as 2 minutes to schedule a doctor’s appointment, and added these items to her daily agenda. She felt freer to conduct his work with an open, uncluttered mind, simply because he listed all those little details on paper.
2. Use a calendar. (You’ll need it.)
When you have a calendar, you can see at a glance what is coming up. This allows you to plan your time more efficiently, which in turn will free up more of your time for other things. Having a calendar also makes it easier to stay on track with your commitments.
3. Lean into your natural rhythms and inclinations. For example, if you prefer working at night, allow yourself to do it and organize your personal life around those nighttime hours.
4. Focus on achieving a better balance, rather than keeping up with everything perfectly in your life. If you have to skip a day/week of something, do it. Your aim is productivity, not perfection.
5. Simplify your environment. If you can, get rid of as many physical distractions as possible (e.g., TVs, radios, pets). If you find it difficult to focus in one room, try concentrating in another (e.g., move your work desk to a different part of the room).
6. Take breaks and relax. It is important to allow yourself time for rest and relaxation, both mentally and physically. Relaxation will help reduce stress levels and enhance your productivity overall.
7. Set boundaries with others and set reasonable expectations for yourself. Letting others know when you cannot handle additional demands will help them respect your time and not pile on more work than necessary
8. Drop the ball, as needed. If you follow the advice here, your life will flow easier. But that doesn’t mean you’ll always get it all done, all the time. Allow yourself the grace to drop the ball (or several balls) if needed, then revisit your schedule and routines for some fine tuning. I loved reading Jon Acuff’s book in one of his chapter he explained that you can’t do it all, in order to give time to something new, you have to take it from something else. He then said:
You only have two options right now.
1. Attempt more than is humanly possible and fail.
2. Choose what to bomb and succeed at a goal that matters.
Perfectionism tells you to take option one. I’m going to teach you to take option two.
I love this because I have always done this in my life, and I thought it was a bad thing. After reading his book, I realized it’s totally normal to be less at something while going after something greater. There is always something that is a bigger priority for you. For example, this week I am launching my course. My husband and kids know I will be working a lot more hours during this launch so they have been helping out a lot. My husband has been taking the kids out to give me alone time, and helping even more out with dinner and laundry, so I can focus as much as I can with my course. It’s not easy, but it’s necessary in order to succeed.
You have to simplify your life in order to have more time for the things that matter most.
Check out the Productive Game Plan in module 4 we cover routines and systems where I share actionable tips to help you to finally learn how to stick to habits, set up routines and systems for your personal and professional life!
I couldn’t agree more with this article! Simplifying and optimizing your life is indeed the key to reducing stress and enjoying life more. I’ve personally found that by implementing routines and systems, I’m able to accomplish more while also having time for hobbies and relaxation. Thanks for the great article!