02 March 2012

priorities.

It's March people, how in the world did that happen!?  

A quarter of the year is almost gone, and here I am feeling like New Years was just yesterday. 

I seriously need to get with the program.


Things are starting to pick up steam on my side of the globe and between work, classes, freelance projects, blogging, works-outs and an article Jurg and I are working on, I've been starting to feel overwhelmed for the first time this year.  I've come to the conclusion that there are just too many things I want to accomplish, but not enough hours in the day to get everything done {is anyone else with me!?}.  And there's nothing on my "to-do" list that I'm willing to compromise on. 

 ... If only sleep wasn't a necessity... 

A couple of days ago over dinner, I was worrying aloud about a load of work that had come in and unexpectedly landed on my desk.  I was in the middle of listing everything else I already had going on and how I thought I might be able to re-arrange my schedule to accommodate everything, when Jurgen cut in and made a really valid point.

Jenna, he said, I know you.  You're the type of person who likes to take on anything that comes your way, but in the end you wind up almost killing yourself, and sometimes also almost killing me in the process.  Take on as much as you can, but also make sure your planning is realistic and your priorities are correct.  And, you need to learn to say no every once in awhile.

{Sometimes Jurgen is the smartest person I know, thank you Jurgen!} 

So... I conceded that he had a point and took his advice.  


I headed to one of my favorite local coffee shops, took out my planner, and dedicated a couple of hours to actually planning out my year in detail... and making sure that what I had planned was actually viable.  While there were a few things I had to push back or cut out completely, a lot of my worry had just stemmed from the fact that I hadn't actually sat down and blocked out my time and so I wasn't really sure whether I could accomplish everything or not.

I was just sort of guessing that I could, but secretly worrying that I couldn't.


Afterwards I felt much better about everything, and much more confident that I would be able to make it through 2012 alive, and have some fun in the process.

 I guess it's just a matter of taking a moment to re-adjust priorities every once in awhile. 

And of course, the delicious cappuccino and brownie that I enjoyed while planning out my year only made my afternoon that much better :)

12 comments:

  1. Good for you setting up priorities! He's so right, sometimes you just gotta say no! It's better to do a couple things well than do a lot of things wishing you could've done better!

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  2. I'm the exact same way as you, there's always so much I want to do and take on but at the end of the day I just need to sit down, plan out everything that is feasible and then just do it!

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  3. cannot believe it's March, too!

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  4. if only sleep wasn't a priority is RIGHT. grrr. glad you are re-adjusting, it always feels good!

    xo the egg out west.

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  5. I am exactly with you! Just posted yesterday about how I need to start getting life in order now that spring is on its way. To me, "starting fresh" happens after spring cleaning, not at new years. There's too much going on at new years for me to get with the program then!

    Best of luck, and that brownie looks delicious!

    <3 Daryl
    Roots, Wings, and Other Things.

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  6. That was some good advice! :)

    It's never a good thing to feel over-whelmed, then you can't enjoy all the wonderful things you're accomplishing!

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  7. hey there. i tumbled in here from somewhere.

    i know the feeling of wanting to do it all . except i often end up achieving nothing, or not much. (actually wrote on this topic just recently)
    i have learnt to accept who i am, but also find a balance, so that i don't burn out and that i'm not frustrated.

    good luck!

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  8. Good for you! I think that brownie definitely helped. Haha. My husband is the same way...he says yes to everything because he doesn't want to let anyone down!

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  9. thats awesome you planned out a whole year! don't you feel so much less stressed when things are down on paper?

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  10. Priorities, priorities! It's so hard to decide WHATS the most important to get done! I need to sit down like you and devote a WHOLE lot of time to organizing my thoughts! :)

    good job girlie!

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  11. I've been out of blogging tooo long, I come back here and you have posted almost seven things. You should pace yourself dear, what am I going to read if you burn out? :)

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  12. I'm the same, I wish I only had to sleep 4 hours per night! :) Jurgen's advice was top notch, he seems very clever indeed!

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Thanks for the love!