You might awaken one day in January, brimming with excitement for the new year's opportunities. This is the year you'll conquer all obstacles and truly excel in living a fulfilling life. Yet, before you know it, days whiz by, leaving you wondering about those opportunities you eagerly anticipated.
The truth is, change doesn't come without action, and if you're not living the life you want, don't expect to get it without doing something about it.
Relying solely on luck, without any proactive steps, is unlikely to lead you anywhere. The day you resolve to seize control of your life affairs will likely be your most fortuitous.
Steps to organise your life and lead it well
1. Be Honest With Your Self
Being truthful with oneself may seem deceptively simple, yet it often lacks the clarity we desire. Consider this simple example: when someone offers you a piece of candy, your body might crave it while your mind might resist. Even when answering a simple yes-or-no question, you may find it challenging to give a response without some internal deliberation first.
Some of the internal battles you face may bring about confusion and distress, depleting your energy and enduring for years. Conversely, some may entertain your relatives and loved ones. In both scenarios, expect to find yourself in a state of confusion and tension. Therefore, you must realise the path that will make your life better and assist you in organising it in the best possible way.
This year, especially due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many people have shifted from not being happy with their jobs to being grateful that they have one. While this may seem reasonable, neither statement fully captures the essence of living a fulfilling life.
How can you truly discern your desires if you're not honest with yourself? When you convince yourself that everything is fine, yet wake up the following week with the same unsettling feeling you've had before, ask yourself these questions: What needs to change in your life? What needs to be implemented? Be honest with yourself when answering these questions because if you want to design your life properly, you must start with a foundation of honesty and candour.
2. Set Priorities
Now, as you're being honest with yourself, you may identify various actions you wish to take. These actions can range in scale and effort, including:
- Purchasing a new mattress to enhance the quality of your sleep.
- Selling your home and relocating to the countryside to be closer to nature.
No matter what unfolds, keep a list of all the things that will steer you toward living a fulfilling life. Bear in mind that clarity of thought becomes exceedingly difficult amidst the constant distractions of daily life and the barrage of notifications from social media. Hence, strive to carve out moments to retreat to a quiet space and reflect on your priorities.
If you struggle to condense your list, simply taking a break can work wonders. Additionally, meditation has been known to aid in sharpening focus and decluttering the mind greatly.
No matter your endeavours, carve out additional time to be alone with your thoughts, undistracted. With time, greater clarity will emerge, and you'll notice the recurrence of the same things. These are the things that matter to you.
No one anticipates that you'll input your work tasks into an Excel spreadsheet or take on the role of project manager, ensuring all tasks are completed before the fiscal year ends. Attempting too many tasks simultaneously can be overwhelming. You can't make sudden decisions like selling your house, pursuing a specific degree, or committing to a fitness regimen overnight.
Identify the most significant things for you. If you could accomplish just one task on your list, what would it be? Why? Can you prioritise a few smaller, more manageable actions on your list?
3. Set Deadlines
Setting a deadline when organising your life is synonymous with taking responsibility. Perhaps you decided to move to another city when you were ten years old, but now, at 45, you're still in the same place. This scenario unfolds when you fail to establish a deadline for yourself. Consequently, you'll experience a lingering sense of unease, realising you haven't made any progress.
To avoid this, set yourself a deadline that fits the mental, emotional, and physical efforts expected during the action. For example, if you've decided to reduce the number of fast food meals you consume, this is an action you can start immediately and practice for several weeks until it becomes a habit.
For example, resolving to end a strained relationship is unlikely to happen overnight. Exiting such a situation requires careful planning, including finding supportive individuals to lean on. Therefore, setting a deadline for this transition might span three or four months. However, don't be too hard on yourself if you cannot meet your self-imposed deadline. Allow for a brief grace period and then realign your efforts towards your goal.
4. Avoid Self-Imposed Pressure
When you decide to organise your life and take action on something challenging, it's crucial to celebrate that choice. Even if you encounter setbacks, take pride in your efforts. External pressures often push us to achieve more, and adding internal pressure to the mix can do more harm than good. Instead, focus on supporting yourself and practising unconditional self-love. Avoid turning your journey into yet another battlefield to conquer.
5. Embrace Life
Aspiring to self-improvement is essential, but it shouldn't lead to disdain for what you currently have in your life. Philosopher Alan Watts introduced the concept of "the backward law," which suggests that the mere desire for greater achievements can be detrimental as it implies dissatisfaction with your current possessions.
In other words, pursuing something often reinforces the idea that you lack it in the first place, leading to feelings of sadness. However, there is a middle ground: strive for what you desire, but not at the expense of hating yourself in the present.
Your future should be exciting, not an escape from your current life. Therefore, periodically accept your life and maintain enthusiasm for what lies ahead. You're more likely to pursue something when fueled by excitement rather than when driven by fear of the consequences of inaction.
In Conclusion
This article outlines five steps to help you organise and live your life well. Remember, perfection won't come overnight during this process. The goal is simply to attain the best life you can live. So, decide on your priorities and what will improve your life in the long run. This is the process. Be patient, enjoy your present moments, and keep moving forward with every decision you make.
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