Monday Mindset
Priorities: Getting Clarity Around What’s Important
Happy Monday, friends! As far as I’m concerned, this is the first real Monday of the year (the first normal week without holiday interruptions). I hope you had a wonderful last couple of weeks with family and friends. And if it was less than wonderful, there’s room for that, too.
I’m glad to be back to the routine of things, and I know some of you will resonate with that. No matter where this finds you today, take this as your cue to take a few minutes to focus on yourself, breathing in permission and breathing out all the things that wait for you on the other side of this.
Speaking of permission, I’m taking all of January to settle in and reposition myself for the year ahead. I feel the pull toward doing more, and yet nature is still hibernating. I’m resisting the urge (read: the message from outside of me) to do it all now, get my house in order, etc, and instead going at a more spacious pace. A gentler pace, though still with focus, and aligned with my values. I hope you will give yourself the gift of space to let things settle, as well.
Quick links for this month’s posts:
This week we’re focusing on,
Priorities: Getting clarity around what’s important
“The key is not to prioritize what’s on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities.”
—Stephen Covey
Getting a sense of our core values is important in bringing more alignment to our lives, but it’s also vital to know what our priorities are in the season we are in. When we recognize what’s most important, we can align our choices with more confidence and clarity.
Big picture goals are necessary to reach toward, but priorities help us get down to what most needs our attention in the here and now (what we can plan today, this week, this month). Goals are where we want to go, and priorities are the areas that must be tended to in order to get there.
Whether you are a goal setter around the New Year or not, getting clear on your priorities for the immediate future can help bring focused vision to your energy output.
Only you can decide what is most important for you to focus on right now—the subtle pulls for care, intention, concerted effort, or structure. What are you feeling drawn to putting more attention toward in your life?
For me, I am letting January be a time for reset. My priorities are based around creating (much needed) structure for my finances, decluttering my spaces, and incorporating more connection with others. Without a clear vision, I know that some of these things will fall to the back burner, as they have many times before.
It’s important to state that I’m not setting my priorities based off of what I think I should. These areas have been pulling at my attention for a while now, and it feels like the right time to set up structures that will, in the end, create more space and freedom for other things that are important to me. They are necessary and what I am choosing to put intentional effort toward in the next couple of months.
Maybe you already know what your priorities are at work. Perhaps you have a list of all the things you hope for this year in your personal life. I encourage you to dig deeper than the surface to-dos. Look for themes, and figure out what’s most important for your attention.
Some examples of this:
Maybe this month your main priority is to connect with others. You could schedule in times with friends, take a class, start a club, etc. Perhaps it’s to focus on your health. You could find ways to bring care, structure, and intention toward whole-bodied wellbeing. Maybe it’s rest. You could focus on giving your body, soul, and mind space, time, and permission to embrace the slower pace of winter.
One of the greatest benefits of knowing our priorities is the clarity it brings to decision-making. They help us to stay aligned, knowing what to say yes to in this moment, and equally important, what is a no for now.
We cannot do everything, let alone do it all well, but we can certainly make significant movement in a couple of focused areas. It is my hope that you will identify the areas that most need your attention, and in setting your priorities, that you will have more clarity and alignment in your life because of it.
Is there a specific area of your life that has been pulling for your attention?
Where do you feel the invitation to bring your focused energy?
Do a big ol’ brain dump. Write down everything you want to spend time on, or that you feel needs your attention. Afterward, go back over and group things into categories/themes (work, health, relationships, etc.). Now pick one (or two) that feels most important to you. Create your priorities for the next week/month/season around it.
I’m so grateful you’re here! You can explore more of the newsletter by digging into the archives, or by upgrading your subscription.
Also, I’m hosting an in-person workshop THIS WEEK! There are some open spots left, and I’d love to have you!
Love your intentions for January. I too want to slow down this month and let things unfold more naturally rather than pushing
that was beautiful! actually felt calmer after reading it 🙌