When Life is Crazy - Stay True To Your Priorities!
By: Nora Rhoades, District Extension Director and Youth Development Agent
If you are like me, your life might be feeling a little upside down right now. For my life, I visually describe the pieces of my work, home, recreational, and spiritual life piled up like a bad attempt at laundry. You know, when you have a mountain of laundry to wash, a mountain of laundry to fold, and the fear of trying to put those mountains away when there is a mine field of stuff scattered here, there and everywhere! Well, you might have guessed it, but this visual I just painted of my life is also exactly what my house looks like right now! Laugh with me, please.In all reality, my to-do list is getting longer by the minute. I used to compartmentalize my tasks by presence in certain physical places and living by the mantra, “Be where you are.” Thanks to the public health risks surrounding
How do we continue to push forward with our life and goals when we are doing “all the things” from home? The value of staying true to your priorities is relevant today, just as it was relevant when your schedule took you here, there and everywhere. I know the crazy, quick shift of lifestyles is a bit intimidating; yet, focusing on your priorities will provide peace and understanding as you find a new normal.
Consider the 80/20 rule. In the business world, this rule explains that 20% of efforts result in 80% of total output. When applying the rule to one’s personal life it means that 80% of values and memories are gained from only 20% of activities. Yes, that means you could be wasting 80% of your time on things you don’t even recognize to be important!
In your current environment ‒where you are combining home, work, recreation, and spiritual activities‒ what is hogging your time and producing minimal reward… unplanned trips to the grocery store? electronics? fear of failure or success? lack of interest? procrastination? guilt? poor sleep habits? people pleasing? over-commitment? miscommunication?
If you are a victim of the 80/20 rule, focus on one day at a time until effective time management becomes a habitual. Outline what you want to do, what you ought to do and what you must do. Then, determine what you can eliminate, modify, substitute, combine, or exchange. Remember, effective time management is not a result of prioritizing your schedule. Rather, it is gained by using a schedule to stay true to your priorities!
To add confidence to your time management decisions answer the question “Why?” as you analyze your day. You may discover some tasks that align with your values and interests are getting covered by rubbish. Recognizing why gives you permission to make a change for the better. As odd as it sounds amidst our seemingly chaotic public health reality, let the freshness of change motivate you to take back control of your time.
The Post Rock Extension District is open for business in a soft closure format. What does this mean? It means my dedication (and that of our entire staff) to extending the mission of K-State Research and Extension to the community members in Jewell, Lincoln, Mitchell, Osborne and Smith Counties, is the same as it was the day before we all took responsibility for minimizing the health and safety risks of COVID-19. It means our offices are closed to public traffic, yet I’m practicing my dedication and service as an Extension Agent in ways that are powerful, even if they are different than what we are used to.
Let’s get back to my mountain of laundry. Did I mention this mountain is ten feet from my temporary work station? I take seriously the expectations of extending the mission of K-State Research and Extension to you, just like I take seriously the responsibilities I have as a family member, parent, and Sunday School teacher. I know your passions haven’t waivered either during this time of transition.
We’re all in this together. I’m here to help you navigate your mountains so you can stay true to your priorities… even when life is crazy. The 80/20 rule is going to be more important than ever when so much of what defines us is happening in the same place. Take time to slow down and identify your priorities. Then, build a schedule around your priorities. Don’t let the laundry mountains, mine fields of stuff, and exhaustive to-do lists deteriorate the mindful missions of reaching your goals.
The Post Rock District of K-State Research and Extension serves Jewell, Lincoln, Mitchell, Osborne, and Smith Counties. Nora Rhoades, District Director and Youth Development Agent, may be contacted at nrhoades@ksu.edu or 785-378-3174. Stay connected with “Post Rock Extension” on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. Our website is www.postrock.ksu.edu.
