Save Your Time
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Lesson Four
Today we are talking about letting go, and looking at the mindset many of us have struggled with I must do it all now.
Would you believe me if I told you that the character traits of being responsible, or doing things with excellence sometimes hold us back? Well, it’s true.
Being responsible is a good trait to have. But when we start using it as our excuse for everything we are doing, it can become self-sabotaging. The same is true if we desire excellence. We call allow perfectionism to hold us back from asking for help because we believe we can do everything the best. However, believing that I must do it all now can cause us to feel overwhelmed by all the things we are committed to do.
Expecting 100% of ourselves with every project, relationship, and task is exhausting.
Today’s mindset shift, rather than saying: I must do it all now, we want to change it to I don’t have to do it all.
Maybe there are things you and I are doing that someone else can do, or that we don’t need to do quite to the level we have been investing. Sometimes we need to lower our expectations and energy output so we can make minimal deposits into each area of our life. We don’t want to neglect anything for too long.
Know your strengths. Know what you are best at. If this is something you find challenging, I recommend you walk through the 4D Filter. The 4D’s are Delete. Delegate. Defer and Do. In that order.
Start with a list of everything you are committed to. Tasks, activities, projects, deadlines.
Delete – is there anything in my life or on my list I can take off? Maybe it’s not important anymore or the deadline has come and gone. Delete it.
Delegate – is there someone that can do that task in the same amount of time, or for less money that you are doing it yourself? (think kids with laundry) Delegate it.
Defer – does it really need to happen right now? Or can you push it off into the future? Defer it.
Do – only the important things should be left. Do those.
Here’s a question to think about: What is one thing you can delete, delegate and defer?
Write them down – and take action.
Start getting comfortable with saying no, and believing that you don’t have to do it all. And don’t forget, just because you have done something for a long time doesn’t mean you have to keep doing it. Spend some time really evaluating the things you are doing.
Let’s make this mindset shift today: From I must do it all now to… I don’t have to do it all.
