A Hammer or a Shoe?

I was putting away towels in our bathroom the other day and noticed the bottom of one of the trim boards was sticking out a bit. On closer inspection the issue was a nail that was about halfway out.

I was in a hurry and the thought of going downstairs to get a hammer then being careful and making sure I didn't hit the nail hard enough to mark the wood just sounded like too much trouble. So I whipped off my shoe and gave the nail a couple quick whacks and it was done; simple, quick and easy.

There are many things in our life like that nail. They are there and need to be handled. We can over-plan and over-think these things or we can just do them. Yes, I know there are things that require a little planning or the right tool; but not everything and not every time.

Action: Review your to-do list and see if you can knock off a few items simply by allowing yourself to do thinks more simply.

Do you long for peace?

When I got up this morning the house was still; everyone was asleep and peace blanketed everything. I made a cup of tea then sat down and reveled in the stillness. I enjoyed the quiet, not having anyone asking anything of me, and not having to be anywhere or do anything. It was just lovely.

Then I thought about what it would really be like if this is the way I lived my life. I imagined how it would feel if this was my constant state, if I truly lived alone and had no responsibilities, no activities, no place to be and no one expected anything of me. The truth is that it would get old very quickly. I dream of time on my own because it's a break from the everyday, an oasis in the midst of the craziness of life. But it's not how I want to spend my entire life.

As you redesign your life be careful to focus on what you truly want and love and not just escaping the things that have been tiring or frustrating. You want to focus on your passions and your priorities.

Action: Make a list of your highest priorities, the things that mean the most to you. Then be sure that the activities on your calendar support those priorities.

Recommended Resources!

Ready to go deeper? Try some of these resources!
(The following resources are things we like and believe to be worth your time to look at. Some products are free and some are for purchase. Sometimes we earn a profit, commission, affiliate or an advertising fee when you buy and sometimes we don't. But the resources are always chosen because we see value in them. We hope you agree.

Moving from 'I Hate My Life to I Love My Life'

What Color Is Your Parachute? 2011: A Practical Manual for Job-Hunters and Career-Changers (See all Business Skills Books)

Choose Your Life

The Brilliance of a Vacation

As the summer rolls along it seems like things get busier and busier. The time left to spend with my girls before they start school is drawing to a close. The time to plan and host fall events for my business is getting short. Things are exciting and fun but moving at break-neck speed and there is so much I want and need to do.

It's easy to just work harder and faster, give up sleep and try to get more done. But the real solution may be to do something counter intuitive and take a vacation.

Today's local paper, The Herald Palladium, has an article on vacations and the benefits to our health. It turns out that people who take vacations have less health problems and live longer than people who don't. My experience has been that taking a vacation also clears our heads and helps us be more focused and more productive in our work.

Action: Take a look at your calendar and find time to relax, whether it's a vacation, a stay-cation or a micro-vacation, carve out time to relax, de-stress, and have some fun!

Recommended Resources!

Ready to go deeper? Try some of these resources!
(The following resources are things we like and believe to be worth your time to look at. Some products are free and some are for purchase. Sometimes we earn a profit, commission, affiliate or an advertising fee when you buy and sometimes we don't. But the resources are always chosen because we see value in them. We hope you agree.

9 Things to do on a Family Stay-cation

Vacationing with Another Family

3 Ways to Make Your Stay-cation Feel Like a Vacation