“Beware the barrenness of a busy life.” –Socrates
Socrates had it right.
Being “busy” may provide a temporary hit of fulfillment, but when your life is choked up with commitments that don’t feel meaningful or energizing, that’s a
pretty barren existence.
It is difficult, if not impossible, to evolve into the person you want to be when you are so busy and burdened that you can barely breathe.
As someone with a strong tendency to over-commit / over-achieve / over-give, I've had to come up with specific processes to keep myself on track — to keep my calendar
filled with the "right" things and not... everything.
Today: I would love to share a few of my personal processes with you.
(Because I've got a little inkling that your calendar might need some spring cleaning and detoxing, too... yeah? Read on.)
Of course, clearing your calendar isn't a "one-time and done!" dealio. It's an ongoing process. You've got to fight — love-warrior-style — to prevent the clutter from
creeping back in. The biggest learning curve, for me, has been learning how to say "no" — kindly but unapologetically.
These pieces from my archives might help:
- Addicted to my scripts? If you want even more "no" scripts for frustratingly common scenarios — like when a client wants you to lower your rates or work for free, or when someone wants to hang out but you're not really interested — my e-book, How To Say No Nicely, is
packed with plenty o' templates for you. It's $5. Find it inside my Shop.
- "Too busy" to blog, write poems, or work on your book? If you're tired of feeling overwhelmed and blocked when it comes to writing, my e-course, Unstoppable, might help. I tackle the 10 biggest obstacles that stop people from writing & gives strategies for each one. (Cool side-note: it includes a bunch of audio lessons, so if you've ever wondered what my speaking voice sounds like... you're about to find out!) It's $50. Find it here. Enjoy to the max.
When it comes to spending your time wisely and deliberately, there is always room for improvement.
I try to live by the Japanese philosophy of Kaizen: where "perfection" is not the aim, but rather, "perpetual, positive improvement every day." Tiny steps. Infinite progress.
Wherever you are, today, and whatever you've currently got on your calendar or to-do list...
Have a Kaizen kinda
day.
xo.
-Alex
PPS. I've been social-media-free for about a year, but... I joined Instagram yesterday (@alx.franzen). Why? Because it seems like fun. If you'd like to peek into my life... here is the place.
PPPS. Happy Mother's Day! Which reminds me: I gotta call my momma right... now.