Even when change is a struggle and not by choice, it might be just what we need to embrace the opportunity to shift priorities.
I haven’t been shy about the fact that I wasn’t thrilled about this move from Texas to Kentucky. At the same time, “I recognized that recently my priorities and my daily life weren’t meshing as smoothly as they had in the past. The opportunity presented itself – I could use the move as a chance to restructure my days.
Growth is uncomfortable
Change is often exciting and so necessary, but it is rarely comfortable.
Growth, whether personal or professional, is a tough, dirty process.
The past three years have been wonderful, comfortable ones for me. While Texas wasn’t my first choice when we were looking at a military move, I quickly realized that it felt like home. The sunshine, the people, the wide open skies – Texas was full of opportunity. I started tackling my riding goals. My business grew and evolved. My son started school, changing the fabric of my family.
In the last 6 months, that routine I had created wasn’t fitting quite so well. Work had taken over my time so it was harder to fit my saddle time in. I was struggling to get my work outs in so my weight loss, and general efforts to improve my health had stalled. I knew something needed to change but was having a tough time figuring out exactly what was out of whack.
Shifting Schedules
Since moving to Kentucky, more than the weather has changed. My son’s school schedule is significantly different here – he starts later and walks to and from school (with me). He also has one day a week where he gets in out an hour early, so my routine isn’t quite as consistent.
Perhaps an even bigger impact is that things just aren’t as convenient here. In Texas, I had found a variety of ways to make my time as effective as possible. Most of my household errands were done on the way back from my rides or in the half hour before school pick up. I utilized (and dearly loved) online grocery orders & curbside pick up. None of those things are possible here.
While munchkin’s school is very conveniently located a 5 or so minute walk away, nothing else is. Shopping anywhere except Walmart is 30 – 45 minutes away and not easily combined with other trips like the barn. It means that I have to be even more deliberate and purposeful with my time because it’s much more difficult to make it up.
Embracing Opportunities
With all of that, my days needed a little re-organization. I’m shifting my professional focus to growing my membership site, BloggingInBalance.com, and away from my contract work. The hope is that I’ll also be able to spend some time again with my equestrian photography, especially the fine art side, while I’m in horse country.
Those changes are intended to free up the time to refocus my time on my most important priorities: my family and my own wellness. That was the driving force behind my move to working from home in the beginning. But, like most things, it’s so easy to lose sight of the goal. We get distracted by things that are opportunities (like different work) but maybe not the best fit for the life we really want. Those calls are hard to make in the moment. Most of the time, we are left to make the best choice we can with the information available to use – and reevaluate on a regular basis.
Shift Priorities
I’m so fortunate to enjoy my work – digital marketing. I get to work with companies and entrepreneurs to use blog and social media content to build real, productive relationships with their audience of consumers. But, especially when your office is in the next room, it can so easily take over your life. I’m going to take advantage of the real opportunity that comes with working from home, to structure my work day in a way that fits into a life built around my most important priorities.
Over Christmas break, I won’t be working after lunch at all. That time will belong to making Christmas cookies, putting together some home made gifts and building lego creations. There will be time set aside for the barn and PiYo and healthy meal prep.
Moving forward into 2017, I’m blocking time every day to spending in my Balanced Blogging Facebook group, helping other bloggers grow their audiences and chase big goals. I’m going to set my sights on a couple horse shows. Working with a new doctor, we’re going to try some new dietary strategies to prop up my thyroid and adrenal system.
I’m committing to taking care of myself. If that’s one of your priorities for the new year, I’d love to cheer you on over in my Fit2Ride group on Facebook!
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