My friend Kristen, who is on a 30 Day Hot Yoga Challenge, sighed into the phone.
“What’s up?” I asked.
“My To Do List looks like a seizure on paper,” she said.
I can relate: too much to do, too little time, too dizzy to stand up.
What makes you lose your balance?
Your three kids need to be at soccer, piano lessons and remedial kindergarten class at 3PM sharp and you’re the only Mom they have to get them all there on time? Your boss wants that overdue report yesterday which means you’ll be putting in overtime today and tomorrow…and forever? You’re backed into that tight corner of stress, anger and guilt again, this time because you missed your hot yoga class? (last time it was because you took the time to do your hot yoga class).
Is your To Do List doing you in?
It’s so easy to lose your balance. Even the idea of balance is, well, somewhat off.
Balance is not about spreading your time evenly among many tasks, giving yourself equally to everything, and coming out even. Balance is about getting the life you want. Enjoyment. Fulfillment. Abundance. Remember those?
But how will you get all everything done? You’re ready for a DO NOT List.
6 Easy Steps to Get Your Life Back
1. Get a piece of paper. Draw a line down the middle.
2. Write “Universe” (or God, Invisible Friend, Purple Cow…whatever you believe can support you) at the heading of the right column.
3. Write EVERYTHING you need to do on that side of the page. Blurt it all out – walk the dog, finish the marketing report, answer 422 emails. Pay the bills with not enough money. Make Thanksgiving dinner for 12. Don’t stop til you’ve got it all on paper.
4. Take a deep breath…INHALE….EXHALE…
5. Write “Me” on the left side.
6. Now move TWO things from the right side to the left side. Just 2. TWO. Make it two things you WANT to do (is hot yoga in there?)
You’re already screaming: BUT HOW WILL THE REST GET DONE?
Here’s how: I don’t know. But it will. And here’s why.
On your right shoulder is your very competent Virtual Manager, that invisible entity or energy in your life who always makes things work out. Did you ever look back and say, “Thank goodness I didn’t get that job I wanted so badly - this one is so much better!” or “I’m so glad I didn’t get accepted at the Ivy Leagne college – I would never have met my soulmate, and that “second-rate: college turned out to be an excellent education at about a third the cost.”
Invisible Purple Universe, at your service.
Do not do your “Do Not List” and how it all gets done.
You’ve been meaning to call your mother and then…she calls you. Your boss changes the focus of that report you’ve been procrastinating about to a topic you wrote about last year, so it’s already in your files. The car you’ve been putting off buying suddenly goes on sale.
It works out better than you could have planned.
I have to remind myself about all this now and again (ok, again and again.) I don’t like not knowing how it will all work out without my planning, controlling, fretting endlessly.
I forget that holding on does not give me more control. Letting go is the only way to maintain my balance.
That, and hot yoga.
I’m like that guy from The Hair Club: I’m not just the owner of Riverflow Yoga, I’m also a customer.
Hot yoga has helped me go with the flow for the past 15 years. And when I feel I am drowning, hot yoga still swoops in and rescues me.
So, grab the nearest napkin and get going on your DO NOT List.
Just make sure hot yoga is on your side.
