Now, small town and country living isn’t for everyone. But, there is a lot to learn from slowing down and taking a real inventory of your surroundings. This includes the obvious physical surroundings, but it also includes the lessons learned from just interacting with people. What I’ve experienced so far in this small town has been a reminder of the many fundamental things that are important. What would happen if you just stopped for a moment and slowed down? Let’s find out!
- Re-center yourself. Being in a new place has given me a lot of time to re-evaluate the things that are important to me. This includes work, personal and life goals, including how I approach them. Set aside time (i.e., schedule it!) to re-discover what’s important to you. This could be as simple as writing down all the things you value or that have importance in your life. Then, make an effort to align what you do with those values or goals. I call this being on point. When you’re on point, magic happens!
- Simplify. Simplification can happen in several areas. First, your desk. It’s a great place to start. For me, nothing feels better than starting my day with a clean work area. Clutter around me tends to clutter my thoughts. I try to de-clutter at least once per week–more if I’m working on a project. Simplifying can also mean permanently removing items you don’t need or finding a place to store them if you don’t use them often. Right now, I am working on a foldout table, so that’s been an easy task. I have my computer, a phone, a cup of coffee and water. That’s it. When I get back to my other home office, I plan to find a “home” for more items. They just aren’t needed to be successful.
- Create Success. Next, move on to your task list. I like to make a “success” list every morning. I prefer a success list over a task list because when I complete an item on that list, I feel successful! I either use a notebook or my whiteboard so all of the tasks are right there. If I complete items that aren’t on the list, I will write them down and check them off! There is no rule you can’t reward yourself for getting something done that’s not on the list! Now it’s time to purge. Try to eliminate items from the list that don’t align with your values and goals. Generally, if an item keeps re-appearing on that list it either isn’t that important or it’s an item you know needs to be done, and you are procrastinating. I know this from experience! Either remove it or get it done! Focus on what REALLY needs to be done and get to it.
- Skip Perfection. I mentioned in a previous article about redefining what perfection is. Perfection is doing your best, not necessarily getting it perfect. Take the pressure off and keep it simple. If something is complicated, break it down into doable pieces so it doesn’t feel as overwhelming. Lastly, if you’re feeling overwhelmed, keep your focus on what’s important (refer to #1). If you need a quick reminder, here is a link to that article!
- Be Kind. In the work we do, part of our job is to observe people. The one thing I’ve seen here is that Southern hospitality is a real thing. I generally do not leave any store or public place without having a conversation with someone. I’m sure part of this is curiosity (I’ve affectionately been referred to as a city slicker), but it’s also about being kind and friendly. I’d like to challenge you in the coming week to make a point to chat with someone, in-person…or do something as simple as pay someone a genuine compliment. It could be a co-worker or a client. Observe the reaction. You’ll see that kindness goes a long way. Then, make an extra effort to be kind to yourself. Feel that reaction. Try to repeat both with frequency. It will not only make a difference to those you serve but in you as well.
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