First published 2 May 2024

Perhaps it’s time to Embrace Essentialism!

Remember when “priority” was singular?  It used to signify one most important thing.

These days, our to-do lists overflow with “priorities”, leaving us feeling overwhelmed and, ironically, unable to prioritise effectively.

This month’s book club pick was Essentialism by Greg McKeown and as we just finished it and discussed it yesterday, I felt it would be rude not to share 😉

The part that stood out the most for me was that in today’s world of overflowing choices and constant decision fatigue, the book argues that:

“If you don’t prioritise your life, someone else will“. 

I don’t know about you but that felt like a bit of a mic drop statement!

Think about it.  When we say “yes” to everything, we end up saying “no” to ourselves (and if you have been with me for a while, you may recognise this from a previous post on a different book with a similar message!).  

But, what are we saying no to really? Surely being amenable to helping others and doing what other people ‘need’ is a good thing?  Well… what about our well-being? Our passions?  Our true purpose?

If we become slaves to other people’s agenda, constantly chasing fleeting priorities that ultimately lead nowhere and are not in alignment with ourselves, where does that leave us?

How do we break free from this cycle and reclaim control of our lives? (other than just booking in to work with me 😉).  The answer lies in the art of discerning what is truly important to you, and eliminating the rest – yep – by embracing essentialism!

If you need a few tips to get you started (and you know I love a good top tips list!):

• Declutter your commitments:  Schedule some time to review your calendar and to-do list – and be ruthless about it.  Ask yourself: “Does this truly align with my core values and goals?” Be prepared to say “no” with grace.  Simply by delaying the “yes”, you can decide if it is something that aligns and that you want to do – so answer with ‘let me check my diary and get back to you’, then decide if what you are being asked for fits for you.
• Embrace the power of “not now”:  Don’t be afraid to postpone requests that don’t fit your current priorities.  A simple “thanks for asking, but I am swamped right now and I won’t be able to give it the focus/attention it deserves.  Can we revisit this in [ timeframe ]?” can work wonders.
• Set boundaries with technology: we now live in a world where we are always ‘on’ and that can be exhausting in and of itself.  Constant notification and social media feeds can be major time-wasters.  So, schedule times to suit you to check email and socials – and where possible, silence notifications during focused work periods, and during designated ‘me time’ time.

I know that prioritising self isn’t always easy, and we may have many years of conditioning to get through to even think it is ok to do so.  Sometimes, along with that conditioning, we also have hidden blockages or limiting beliefs clouding our judgement, making it difficult to identify our true priorities.

This is where I come in!  A kinesiology session can help identify these hidden blocks and clear the path to clarity.

If you do fancy exploring how Kinesiology can help you discover and prioritise your life’s purpose, book a complimentary zoffee (zoom coffee) with me to discuss how I can support you on this journey we call life.

And if you take nothing else away from this week’s ‘weekly waffle’ (so tempted to see if I can trademark that 🤣), remember that prioritising yourself isn’t selfish, it’s essential.

By eliminating the noise and focusing on what really matters, we make space for a fulfilling and purposeful life. 

Let’s reclaim the power of “priority” (singular!) and live life on our own terms!