It is so true that we are all creatures of habit. But sometimes the habit is actually the absence of doing something....like updating my blog. I've thought of so many things to write about over the last several months but just never set aside the time to actually get it done. So this post is dedicated to the thought of getting back in the habit of updating my blog (and getting Sue off my back about it).
But I must admit it's not just the blog...there's a lot of good things I've gotten "out of" the habit of doing over the past year. And it's not New Years so they aren't resolutions...but I am committing to myself to get back in the habit of a few things.
It doesn't take much reflection to realize why some habits have gone by the wayside even though they were really good habits...like running, exercising, eating right, writing in my journal. For me, they go by the wayside because something that seems more fun and exciting takes up the time. Maybe I should "practice what I preach" and revisit the time management strategies we used to teach FFA officers in their training.
Stephen Covey describes life management by using a rock and jar analogy. On the table is a huge jar, big rocks, small pebbles and sand. It takes strategy to get all the rocks, pebbles and sand to fit in the jar. You see, if you put the big rocks in first, then the small pebbles will fill some empty spaces, then the sand will fill even more empty spaces and it all fits. But it wouldn't work that way if you did it in reverse order. Same is with life. The big rocks are those things that you value most and if you don't carve out time to dedicate to those types of activities that serve that value...they'll but pushed out by the smaller, less important stuff. We only have 24 hours in a day and unless we consciously dedicate some of that time to the things we value most....they easily get pushed out every time.
I know for me, I need to carve out some time for the big rocks of family and fitness/health. It's time they stop getting the leftover time. My calendar gets filled with work, appointments, and meetings...maybe I should start scheduling time for my big rocks so I know that they will happen too. I've been saying I am going to see my great-aunt in the care center for about six months now...maybe I should put her on my schedule for tomorrow and just go do it!
