Every time I go the mall (which with 4 girls in the house is way too often), I get turned around and frustrated. I go to the giant cube in front of JC Penny and look at the map to find the store I am looking for. Then, I look for the red star that shows “You are here”. Then, with a simple geometric shape of directions, I draw a path (avoiding as many toy stores as possible), to my destination. I usually get distracted by a candy store, two diaper changes, and a spilled soda along the way. With a “diaper-dad” diaper bag, I make the changes, clean the messes and approach my destination with clean children and smiling faces.
Whaddaya Mean I Don’t Do Enough Housework? (Photo credit: las – initially)
What is important to you? What do you want to accomplish? Do you plan on becoming the VP of Marketing, publishing a Novel, releasing a hit album for your Polka band? Your goal is your goal and nobody else’s. It is up to you to do the steps to get there. Where is your “you are here”? Life is a series of seasons that change your approach toward your goal but not the goal itself. Tasks such as laundry, vacuuming, homework, and bedtime routines are just as important to achieving your dream as the focus time you spend on your dream. These are like a solid foundation to build upon. If not managed (note, I didn’t say finished) they can be a potential source of distraction, frustration, and even dream death.
There is a time for cleaning and there is a time for dreaming.
Many of these things seem mundane and even time wasters. They are…if you let them be. Stressing over simple tasks (although many) while working on your dream, or stressing on your dream while working on your tasks is a sign that you may need to re think a few things. Usually it’s not a matter of doing less. A tweak here or there such as waking up 15 minutes earlier 1 day, or being more realistic on how much time things take may do the trick.
Mastering the art of managing the mundane may be one of the most important things you can do to achieve your dream.
Yes! Vacuuming and dishes will get you to the corner office! Be intentional about your time checking boxes so you can be intentional about building your dream. I recently wrote a “how to” on productive relaxing (
read here) . Being intentional with your time is knowing you are safe doing what you are doing NOW because you aren’t supposed to be doing something else. Build a list of the boxes you need to check in order to keep your foundation solid. Agree on duties and fair timeliness with those whom you are accountable. Be present in every moment, including the mundane. Those tasks should never be interruptions to your dream and should never cause tension in your family. Enjoy the journey, not just the dream of the destination.
How do you manage the unending list of tasks that can steal your dream?
roccoandjamie 