Prioritization and Procrastination – Part 1

Each year, many of us go through the process of making New Year’s Resolutions, “resolving” in some way to improve our lives, and perhaps that of others. Making the resolution or commitment is the first step; you then need to prioritize and make the necessary changes in what may be your already overly-scheduled lives, to “find time” for your new priority.

When we assign priority to something, we are not simply ranking it; we are in fact deciding how important it is to us, by pushing it to the top of our list so that we can achieve our goals. How we spend our time adds up to, and affects, the kind of life experience we have. All the things we do are intertwined and the consequences cumulative. Of the 24 hours -1,440 minutes – available each day, consider how much of this time you will allocate to your new priority, and why. It’s the “why” that is often not evaluated in depth, and within a short period of time, that all-important resolution is relegated to the wayside, and the dreaded procrastination sets in.

Why do we fall into the procrastination trap time after time? Most of us find it challenging to add new activities, or plans, into our already-full lives, or we may find that it is not that important after-all, or we find some justification of its now lack of importance. Starting and then staying with a new plan or habit becomes easier when you can factor in the benefit over the long haul; ask yourself how this will affect the next 20, 40, or 60 years of your life on this earth. Maybe you will say to yourself, “Hey, this is so important to me that I want it for the rest of my life.” In the case of an exercise plan or a change to a healthier diet, these things do matter for the long haul, and are well worth the effort. If we take the time to reflect deeply on what it is we really want in our lives, perhaps our resolutions will last. Consider this 3 days, 3 weeks, and 3 months into your new commitment. As you make your resolutions for 2007, ask yourself, “Am I living my life the way I want to”? “Will I be happier by making healthier choices”? “Can I keep my commitments, and live free without regret by keeping my resolutions”?

In doing this, you can think more clearly, and in this present moment in time, make more educated and meaningful resolutions that bring you closer to living the life you want to live, and being the healthy, vibrant being you truly are. As Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “Make the most of yourself for that is all there is of you.” We, at Natural Cures, Wish You a Happy and Healthy New Year!