As we start another September, the slower pace of the summer seems like a distant memory. 
Getting everything done is challenging to say the least. I’m a huge fan of lists to help keep me on task. In past newsletters, (such as: Finding Clarity Within Chaos (https://helenkosinski.com/finding-clarity-within-chaos/) or Success Breeds Success (https://helenkosinski.com/success-breeds-success/)) I have also shared tips for avoiding and/or conquering overwhelm.
I recently saw the following quote on one of my teachers FB pages…
“The key is not to prioritize what’s on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities”
~ Stephen Covey
This shifted my thinking about priorities.
Of course, you have things you absolutely MUST do to keep your life/business moving.
Yet, after pondering this quote, I realized many of the things I put on the top of my list aren’t always top priorities. These things pop up as a “have to” or “should do” immediately, when in fact that may not be true.
Here’s an example of what I mean. Overnight, I received an email with a question about doing an animal communication reading. My knee jerk response was I must respond to that right now, before I do anything else. Fortunately, I stopped and thought about this. Was it really a top priority that needed attention right at that moment? No. I decided to take care of myself first. When I sat down to respond to this email, I took my time instead of rushing through it because I was hungry.
How can you honor your priorities?
Decide what your priorities are.
The best way to determine your priorities, is to schedule some time with yourself. During this time, create a list of what is most important to you. Some possible priorities are:
- family
- relationships
- business
- career
- self-care
- etc.
After you have your list, select one or two items to be your top priorities for now.
Your priorities aren’t cast in stone, so don’t worry about “getting it right” as you go through this exercise. Additionally, your priorities will change as you change, and your situations change.
Then what?
For most people, putting your priorities on your schedule can help to honor them. For example, taking time off in the summer is a priority for me. For several summers in a row, I ended in 
September wondering where the summer went. This year, in April, I blocked time on my calendar for days off in the summer. Additionally, as each month started, I took another look at my calendar and added more time off.
One word of caution about blocking time on your schedule for your priorities. When you see that time block on your schedule, treat it like this meeting is with your most important client. By this I mean, don’t blow off this appointment! Keep it! Remember, it’s important to you.
Also, some people find it helpful to put top priority tasks on their to-do list. For example, self-care for you could include scheduling healthcare appointments. Putting this as a top priority item on your to-do list, can ensure these get setup.
Finally, setting boundaries to protect your priority can also be valuable. For example, if maintaining a healthy relationship with your significant other is a top priority, don’t spend your 
date night checking your phone every 10 minutes. You can honor this priority by establishing a boundary that will show them they are important to you. Perhaps that means you don’t check your phone until the end of the evening or even the next day.
Boundaries can be very beneficial. As you start implementing a new boundary, you may end up crossing it here and there. Don’t give up. Keep working to establish that boundary.
Before I wrap-up I want to share a quick story about an interesting experience I had with my priorities. During my animal communication training, I had a reading done with my girl kitty, Hana. The lesson Hana was working on with me was to have more fun (**check the end of this section for more info about lessons). Hana also shared exactly how we were to play together. 
She assured me it would not take much time.
You may be wondering what this has to do with honoring my priorities. I’ll explain… After this reading, I made it a priority to play with Hana a few times a week. What I discovered was:
- I was NOT too busy to play with her
- I felt better after every play session,
- I returned to my work refreshed and often with a new perspective
- This small consistent play time strengthened our relationship
- I was grateful to her for helping me to more fully understand the importance of playing and fun.
Honoring your priorities takes
- awareness
- perseverance
creativity- flexibility
- effort.
The impact to your life and/or business can be life changing!
**In case you’re curious, all my animal communication readings include the lesson your animal is working on with you and it’s always intended to help you be the best version of yourself. For more information, please click here go to my Soul Level Animal Communication® Readings page.
