Have you ever been told to get your priorities straight? Have you ever tried thinking about where to start? How do we organise ourselves properly to get the most out of life?
There is an art to prioritisation. It can be hard to master but when it is done correctly it will bring you a new level of comfort and fulfilment. At a moment of reflection when I hit an all-time low, I came up with a system that is designed to keep us, as human beings, healthy and put us on a path to fulfilment. The system should be visualised like a drop of water in a pool. If one pours their attention into the centre of the ripple then it will influence and improve the other factors that flow out from it as well. You start by prioritising your wellbeing followed by your ambitions and then your social life.
- Wellbeing: I’m referring to your physical and mental health. I believe that one should everyday prioritise their own health above anything else. This means getting a good night’s sleep, finding the time to cook and eat the right foods, exercise, meditate, journal as well as tidying and organising your space. Each one of these activities will nourish you, filling you with energy and possibility. This is the equivalent of filling up your car with petrol for a long journey. Your healthy habits will sustain you along the road of life. With this taken care of, your body will feel full of energy and potential and your mind will be alive and ready to take on the day.
- Ambition: Now that your body is full of potential you have the ability to tackle whatever work or projects you want to get done during the day. You’ll be able to focus better on these tasks as well as enjoy the time you spend working on them. It’s worth taking the time to really ask yourself the question; What is it that I want to do with my life? Why do I want to do it? How can I go about doing that in an effective and nourishing way? With these questions answered, you’ll be able to confidently tackle your workload, feeling capable as well as satisfied after a day’s work.
- Social: When you feel like your personal work and health are satisfied it makes socialising easier and more fun. You feel capable and confident in yourself. You can talk comfortably with people knowing that you are in control of your life. Your emphasis on your wellbeing will make you more attractive and your confidence to follow your ambitions in life will make you interesting. These things make it doubly easy for you to have friendly, well-connected conversations with people who interest you as well as making you more approachable and easier to interact with. On top of this, when you are feeling healthier and more productive you’ll be more open to positive social experiences meaning you’ll get out and try new things socially as well as meet new people.
- Fulfillment: If your social life is thriving because your ambition is being satisfied by your healthy habits you are going to find life more fulfilling. You will start to feel like things that were once difficult are more achievable. That’s not to say you won’t still suffer difficulties. Of course, we all do. But when you have your priorities in order you will find it much easier to tackle those difficulties when they arise. This is what I believe is the path to a fulfilling life. One in which you are capable of standing up for your responsibilities and looking after those around you. Since putting this into practice in my life, things have improved immeasurably and I know that if you use it on your own you’ll be feeling happier and more in control of the chaotic world around you.
