Another day I was feeling very rushed as my day went . I found myself paralyzed into inertia with a’to do list’ that had grown out of proportion to the remaining hours I had in the office. My to do list read something like this- walk the dog, attend a screening of a very special individual who had recently passed, drop off the car in Lisle for servicing (located about 20 miles away from where I live and work!)
What is next?
go grocery shopping because my husband had decided last minute he would love filet mignon, some corn and rice with sausage for supper, a business call at 8 PM and did I mention that I had to round on patients at the hospital also? I sat at my desk feeling somewhat out of sorts. I started to wonder what was the lesson to be learned from here? I realized I had to stop thinking I could be super girl and start prioritizing.
Also that it was important to give myself permission to not finish all of the tasks on my’to do list’ today. Gradually I shook from my inertia and put on my white coat and proceeded to begin hospital rounds. It was 5PM and I understood there was no way I was going to make it to a screening hop onto 294, return for this very important business call and make a dinner that my husband deserved.
What to do?
I took a deep breath and realized that the car would need to wait. So what if it was way beyond the 75,000 mile service mark? It could wait. The dog could also await his day walk (he is spoiled anyway and understands it) I’d given myself permission to slow down, breathe and take things off my whole plate.
Too often we run around feeling that we must do stuff. We measure ourselves against some normal Hollywood stereotype of the man that has it all together without losing a sweat. Being present in the moment is a really important tool that we will need to cultivate in our own lives.
Remember
Rather than ‘doing-ness’ have a moment to just be; see what sensations you experience: How are you feeling? What’s your breathing? What are you feeling? Know about these and whatever else comes to your own consciousness. Strive to live in the moment as opposed to off a’to do list. This is a lesson which once learned adds more value to our everyday living. Take a walk down a street or a place that you’re knowledgeable about. As you’re walking look from 1 side of the road to another take in the scenery, the sounds.
Look upwards and then take your gaze downwards all of the time making note of new items. How are you feeling? What do you hear? Are you able to make eye contact with individuals? Perhaps this is a road that you walk down daily. What do you notice about this road that you weren’t aware of previously? Lastly, give yourself permission to take some things off your plate without feeling guilty. Learn how to utilize prioritizing tools. Examples include developing an easy task list and then assigning a priority score, using computer software, or even your mobile phone organizing tools.