Are You Controlling Life Or Is Life Controlling You?

As we go through life, all too often we find ourselves being torn between what we want to do and what we have to do.

At some point the days begin to run together and a loss of control creeps in. Many people simply compensate by working harder and longer, cramming each day’s activities into an ever shrinking time-frame.

The stresses of daily life can become overwhelming if this condition is not somehow reversed, yet we press onward moving closer to the brink. We fool ourselves into thinking that tomorrow will be better when in fact; the opposite may be the end result.

But why? Can we not see the problem?

We have mismanaged time.

Time has gotten away, and that is exactly the problem. This has become a time management issue.

This type of lifestyle is a direct result of the decisions we make. We’ve all been there, taking on too much to be effective in critical areas.

Somewhere along the way, precious time was traded off for more work. This was not a conscious decision but rather, the result of allowing certain things into our lives that we can do without.

It is quite easy to become consumed by your job or business ventures as you continue to build for the future. When this happens things of great importance get squeezed out.

Those Friday night dates with the wife, the kids’ soccer or football games and family outings can all become victims of this.

You can probably recall when life was so much simpler and you had time to relax and think about your family and loved ones. Times when you came home from work and had the entire evening to do whatever came to mind.

To return to that level of control you must reorganize and free yourself from some of life’s burdens. Work smarter not harder and be willing to let some things go.

Create a personal development plan.

It’s time for a personal development plan that rearranges your priorities and removes the stress and unnecessary pressures you have imposed upon yourself.

You have to get back to controlling life as opposed to life controlling you.

Below is a list of reminders, things that we sometimes need to pause and think about once again. There is no magic potion here, just things we already know, but have perhaps forgotten.

Family and friends.

Get closer to your relatives, starting at home. Make more time for them. Call or visit that cousin and reconnect with an old friend. These can be both heartwarming and invigorating. They also provide that change in routine that is needed to chart a new course.

Clear your commitments.

You may have overloaded yourself with commitments which make you feel as though there is no way out. Be certain to take on no more, and work on clearing away what you already have.

It once took me about six months to clear mine. I had taken on so much work I was overloaded and less than happy that I allowed this to happen. I toughed it out, but learned a “never again” lesson.

Re-examine your tasks.

Many people keep tasks list. Look it over closely to see what you can eliminate, thereby reclaiming some time. You may need to look it over several times, but something has to be taken away.

Slow your pace.

Been rushing around like everyone else? Slow down considerably. It sounds so simple but can be so difficult to do. Another tough decision but one that must be made.

Write down your activities.

Begin a time and motion study by jotting down your activities for a few days. List everything and do as you go along, this helps you slow your pace.

Don’t claim you didn’t have time because this is what we doing, MAKING time.

Learn how to let go, mentally.

When you are out at dinner or visiting a friend or relative, be of the moment. Instead of planning and worrying about time, relax and enjoy yourself. Get away mentally and relax.

Get back to more social activities.

I’m not talking about Facebook here, I’m talking about things like going to see a movie, checking out a dinner club or visiting a museum. Got jokes? Take the family, meet some friends and enjoy a good laugh at the local comedy club.

Reading is fundamental.

That was a slogan from past times. Find a really nice book or magazine and relax, read for a few hours. None of that “Make Money Online” stuff this time, you need to escape for a few hours.

Television news.

Every story is “Breaking News” and it will be breaking for days to come. Take a break yourself and stop watching for awhile. It’s all part of the rat race.

Get some exercise.

Exercise is not just good for the body but also good for the mind. Keep it to something simple that does not require a great deal of time.

Keep your time slots open.

As you take action on some of these reminders, you will gain some free time. Keep those time slots open for the things that matter most in life, like family and friends. Don’t reload with the very types of activities that got us here in the first place.

Travel.

Traveling for pleasure with no firm schedule for a string of days will work wonders. The freedom of being away from the daily routine is one of the most invigorating things I know. Guard your time accordingly and do not commit to a bunch of tourist events. You want down time to do next to nothing, besides relax.

Become a new you.

Identify some things from this list that you can absolutely do and make a change.

Conclusion.

We all know when we have lost control, but somehow we make ourselves think that we are doing the best thing for ourselves and our families by cramming every available hour with work and stress.

This is not as much a flaw as it is the will to succeed and make a better life for ourselves. In doing so, we really work against our goals because we are operating inefficiently.

Much of what is written here sounds so simplistic and easy to accomplish, but we all know better. Regaining control over your life can be difficult, but it boils down to making a lifestyle change.

Will you control life or will life continue to control you?

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1. Personal Development By George Clooney: How Much Does Your Life Weigh?
2. Lessons From Customer Services For Life.
3. 5 Emotional States That Result In Bad Decisions.
4. Six Things You Should Do Daily To Succeed.
5. The Three “F” Words You Must Know To Succeed.