Thriving in chaos
I started this year with thoughts on how to maximize my time. I have consistently struggled with knowing that I have a lot to do and finding time to do it all.
As the year progressed, I have been in and out of a productive cycle and I’m convinced that the issue is not knowledge but action.
I sit and dream of the possibilities that are attainable with a consistent streak of productivity maximizing time.
Therefore, I have highlighted some essentials as a guide as I continue my journey to becoming.
Planning
Planning is something I have often trivialized and it was easy to get away with especially when I find myself in a structured environment getting tasks assigned while I just focus on execution. A very good example of this is school. I get assignments that come with deadlines and many times I have unintentionally waited till the due date before attempting them.
Interestingly, I managed to scale through school doing this. It was mentally exhausting and not a sustainable way to live but I survived.
Fortunately, after school, you are thrown into the world with so much going on, a lot more to do with little to no strict structure that forces you to do what you have to do and exposes the urgent need to create a structure for yourself.
This is where planning comes in.
A dream will forever be a dream without actionable steps to achieve it. I encourage setting annual goals however, it will never be a substitute for doing the work. The only way you move closer to achieving your goals is by doing.
Knowing this, I have placed a lot of emphasis on planning as one of the essential tools to becoming all I can be and doing all I need to do.
Planning brings structure to any space regardless of how chaotic it is. If you find yourself not knowing what to do per time or confused about what you should be doing prioritize planning!
Discipline
Planning is one thing. Executing your plans takes a lot more than just writing down all the things that you have to do.
Discipline is the greatest form of self-love, it is believing you are deserving to achieve all your goals and building the kind of life you want
Discipline is doing that which you have said you will do!
Your plan is what you set out to achieve, discipline is executing it against all odds. Discipline might be one of the most difficult training you have to put yourself through to become who you desire to be.
From my experience, discipline is never a destination it is a choice you have to make every day. Follow your designed plan and complete the different tasks that you assigned in the allotted time.
Simplifying your plans, breaking complex tasks into different smaller components, allotting time and a decision to get things done will go a long way.
Thinking about doing the thing, planning to do the thing, dreaming of the reward you will get from doing the thing, telling people about doing the thing, and dreaming of doing the thing is not doing the thing! Doing the thing is doing the thing.
Doing the thing is discipline!
Choosing discipline as a lifestyle will affect all areas of your with a greater chance of becoming all that you set out to be simply by doing all you need to do to become.
More thoughts
Sometimes, I look back at how much has passed in such a short while in my opinion and I am shocked indeed to realize that time indeed waits for no one.
We are all a product of how we have decided to spend our time. I advise that we all evaluate how expensive time is and make intentional decisions to maximize time.
Planning is an essential part of adding structure to our use of time. An important area to also highlight is asking yourself “What are the things you should not do to achieve your plans” Highlighting this should solve issues like aimlessly strolling through social media or binge-watching a show when you should be getting stuff done.
Finally, the act of creating structure and efficient productivity is a continuous learning curve at least that is what it is for me. I acknowledge that I know little to nothing compared to many things I will know shortly. I can only hope that this helps you to kick start your journey to finding your light and shining in the chaos.
