Have you ever gotten to the end of your day and wonder what you did with your time?
That you ran your kids from one activity to the other, you were in one meeting after another, putting out one fire after another, but you aren’t sure if you accomplished anything.
It is more normal than you think.
Most of us flop down at the end of the day and think, “I know I did things today but did they matter? Were they important?”
Think about it; you lived 24 hours, what do you have to show for it?
Over the last year, I’ve done three practices that have become enormously helpful in taking control of my day.
1. Decide the three most important things to accomplish today. I got this from Michael Hyatt, but the reason this matters is that your schedule and life can get overloaded quickly.
Also, if you’re like most people, it is easier to focus on the urgent (the fires that pop up each day) than focus on the things that are important and matter the most.
Deciding each day ahead of time, on the three most important things to do helps to navigate where my day goes.
Each week, I lay out the three most important things and then each day I work through the things I need to get done. I
2. Reflect at the end of the day on those three things. At the end of each day and week, look at those three things and see how far you got.
For the longest time, I would feel like my life was a never-ending loop of unfinished tasks because I never celebrated or crossed things off.
Doing this will also help you to figure out your schedule for the coming day when you’re able to see what is left undone.
3. Write down three things I’m grateful for. This practice has changed my mindset a great deal. And, don’t miss this, your mindset (the things you focus on) has an enormous impact on your life.
Each night, I write down what I’m grateful for. Things I’ve experienced that day or felt.
This has helped me to see how God is at work in my life and the gifts He’s given to me.
Honestly, if there is something that has raised the happiness level in my life, it is this.
