Add by subtracting.
Picture yourself packing for a big trip. On your bed rests your trusty suitcase. And next to your bed stands a mountain of items you are trying to bring with you. As you stand there, tapping your foot, hands on your hips, you consider your options.
Many of us face this same dilemma when it comes to our schedules. You have all kinds of priorities you’re trying to make room for. However, your capacity to do so — represented here by your suitcase — is limited by things like the number of hours in a day, the amount of money in your bank account and how much energy you can expend before collapsing.
Whether it’s your suitcase or your life, there are usually three options to make things work:
Option 1: Squeeze it in
All too often, we look for ways to creatively cram neglected priorities into the nooks and crannies of our day. Not getting enough exercise? Take the stairs at work. Missing a friend? Meet her at the grocery store and chat while you shop. No time for breakfast? Eat on the road.
And although this approach might work for a while, it doesn’t address the underlying issue of having too much stuff in your suitcase in the first place.
Option 2: Get a bigger suitcase
You can also try getting a bigger suitcase. This approach is all about expanding your capacity. Not enough hours in the day? Go to bed later. Need more energy? Load up on caffeine. Can’t afford that new laptop? Bump up the limit on your credit card.
But like the first approach, it isn’t sustainable. Losing sleep, taking on more debt and using false energy supports like drugs and caffeine will eventually catch up with you. It’s bad for your health, can lead to all sorts of problems like burnout, energy crashes, bankruptcy and high levels of stress. And it still doesn’t get at the core of the issue of there simply being too much in your suitcase.
Option 3: Reduce and replace
And then there’s option number 3: reduce and replace. Here, before trying to figure out how to fit more stuff into your suitcase, you look at removing some of the non-essentials to find meaningful space for other priorities. That might mean cutting back on TV to find more time for hobbies. Learning to say no to social events if you can’t remember the last time you put your feet up. Or skipping the new iPhone upgrade and spending that money on paying down your debt instead.
Create your let-go list
To help you make room in your life by letting go, try creating a Let-go List like the example below. Start with the easier stuff and work your way up. Identify one or two things that you think you can take on each month and go from there.
Making room for priorities isn’t about squeezing additional items into an already crammed suitcase. It’s about taking a good, hard look at what’s in there and figuring out what can be ditched to free up some much-needed space.