Is Your To Do List Making You Sick?

I just can't commit to anything else! I have too much on my plate! This is something I've struggled with for a long time. Yes, I actual subscribed to Super Mom Magazine (not a real publication -ha ha). I am going on 30 years old and I have unsuccessfully tried to do it all for as long as I can remember. How's that worked for me? Well, not so well. I want to share some lessons I've learned (and some I am still learning) the hard way.
Lesson #1 -Quit trying to go it alone! I used to work with a sweet Indian woman by the name of Saraswathi. Saras (as we often called her around the office) and I had lots of great conversations. One day I shared with her my story of postpartum depression with my firstborn child. Saras was telling how different things were in India. In India, after a woman gave birth, her mother and grandmother moved in to help her for a period of time. They helped her while she healed from childbirth, helped her with her home and with the family needs. Saras told me that there were very few cases of postpartum depression in India.
I found this fascinating. We are (as Americans) one of the few, if not only cultures that tries to be so independent of our fellow human beings. Maybe you're thinking, "I'd kill my mother and grandmother if they moved in with me!" Please know that's not what I'm suggesting. What I am saying is this. It's OK to get help. Going it alone doesn't work- not as well as it could with help! You have specific gifts and skill sets that you can use to help others. Let them help you as well!
Lesson #2- Sometimes it's cheaper to hire help. This goes back to our DIY society. I'm not saying there's anything wrong with learning to tile your bathroom. If that's something you desire to learn- go for it! Often, however, we end up costing ourselves more than we saved "doing it ourselves".
A couple of months ago, we started having car problems. My car started making a dreadful noise when I applied the brake. Being the mechanic genius that I am, I knew that meant there was something wrong. My husband listened to it and knew fairly quickly what it was. In the name of frugality we were going to try to fix it ourselves. After taking off of work early a few different days to fix it, the car still sounded like it's butt was dragging the ground. When Steve took it to the mechanic it took about $25 and 20 minutes to fix. How much did it cost Steve to keep taking off of work? I don't know exactly- but I know it was a lot more then $25!
Lesson #3- Priorities first! This is something I struggled with daily! I would make a long to do list (again - Supermom complex). Often I would check off the things that were quick first. It made me feel better to be able to check things off on the list. At the end of the day, I would end up with a undone list of priorities because, often, they took longer.
There are 3 main things that are first on my priority list daily now. One is Bible time with my God. Without Him, I am nothing and I desperately need his wisdom to get through the day. The second is preparing and consuming healthy food throughout the day. If I don't feed my body what it needs, I can't live up to being an awesome wife, mom and friend (not to mention business owner). I highly recommend you put that high on your list as well! The third is fitness. I need the strength and energy to get through the day.
When I make these three things a priority on my daily list, a funny thing happens. Somehow I am able to accomplish more - not to mention I'm a more joyful person to be around. Try it! You might just be amazed at what you can accomplish in a day!
Megan Bullington is an online health and fitness coach. Her simple approach to food and fitness cuts through all the "fad diets" and shows her clients daily, actionable steps to lose weight and feel great! Her proven system shows people that they can do more than live... they can THRIVE!

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