Yay, it’s finally the last day of January!💃 After having different views on whether it’s been a slow or fast month, I think we can finally come to a safe conclusion: the month is over! I believe that seeing this moment is worth all our gratitude. You can breathe out a big “thank you” to God for the successful end of the first 31 days in 2023 as you read this.
Hey, how are you holding up with all that has been going on in the country in the past days and weeks? I am aware that it has been a big deal in many places, and it’s beginning to have a big effect on the well-being of many people, and even on the running of our daily activities. In all that we go through in this period, I implore you not to lose your cool. We are going to survive this phase. We always have, and this one will not be an exception.
Here’s a quick reminder: We are about to step into February, and we all know what this month represents to us as individuals, families, societies, and most importantly, as a nation. It’s the month that we get to directly or indirectly decide how the next 4 to 8years will be. Don’t just leave it to the other person. Play your part, vote wisely, and let’s trust that God will give us His best at this time.
Yes, February is at the door and is about to gain the grounds for the next 28 days. There is a lot of excitement, happiness, and love in the year already, despite having 14 days to D-Day. Omooo, Nigerians no dey chill abeggg😁. Everywhere you turn at this time, the sight of Valentine packages greets you. Well, you heard it from me first. Happy new month, and a Happy Valentine’s day in advance. In a simple but deeply-rooted statement, receive my heartfelt gratitude for being here at this time, whether it’s your first time visiting this blog or you are a returning subscriber. I love you so much, thanks for always being here.
Here, this is the point where we get into the business of the day😁. We are addressing PRIORITIES in this post. Having spent the first month of the year, I believe it’s a good time to evaluate the goals or to-do lists we made at the beginning of the year. Hmmm, someone can relate to falling short of some key goals right now. But, don’t feel tense! We are here to talk about it and not to point fingers or judge ourselves.
As I mentioned earlier, it’s good to witness the end of January. However, I can’t be the only one that can relate to this, I’m sure someone else can bear me witness. As eager as we are to see the month end, we equally have this guilt when it dawns on us that we are lagging with respect to our to-do list for the month. Let’s talk about this defence line, “But I was so busy this month, I had a lot of activities on my plate, and I didn’t waste a single second”. I can understand you, and that’s the reason we’re looking into this very topic.
We have 7 days in a week, and for most people, 5 or 6 out of those days are fixed with scheduled activities; talk of work, school, and the like. Some people even have the whole 7 days fixed, it’s always a work cycle. I mean, these are duty-bound schedules that we cannot push aside. They have come to stay and be a part of our lives. You get back to your “comfort zone” and you literally feel like doing nothing else till the day fades out.
At this point, all you crave is a good meal, a bath, and a beautiful nap to top it. But, right there and then, your mind reminds you that there are a series of meetings or activities lined up, and of course, the need to catch up on the different happenings for the day. Before you know it, that much-needed rest is soon forgotten and is replaced by your mobile device. I believe that you know where the story ends from here, shuffling meetings and social media.
Sometimes (a good number of times, actually), we get caught up in a lot of activities. We just want to be involved in everything that is happening. And if we are going to be honest, our group chats and notifications do not help sometimes. Your phone keeps buzzing, and you just want to clear all that there is to be cleared. If one is not careful, this is one of the big time-sappers. I know I have a witness reading this.
Hey, let me put this straight; you cannot be everywhere at the same time. I know only one PERSON that has that ability and attribute, and I’m talking about the One who is called OMNIPRESENT, no other than God Himself. He is the only One that is everywhere at the same time without being fagged out or crumbling under the weight of activities. Besides Him, there is no other that I know of that can pull this.
What are we driving at today? Dear fam, if you will be able to get right to ticking these significant boxes from the place of fulfilment, then you have to put first things first, as it is popularly said. The truth is that we do not always have to be in some of these meetings or places where we find ourselves. Even if you have to be there, there is one that is of more importance to your person than the other.
I think you need to have your seat and ask yourself some questions which must be answered with all sincerity. You need to get back to that to-do list to have a mental picture of where you want to concentrate your time and energy this season. This is a very significant first step to take, and it’s going to drive you further in the right direction.
Now that you have a clear picture of what you want to do, you need to drive your time to favour these goals. There already are some activities that cannot be altered in your daily living, as I said earlier. However, there are also some other activities that can be altered and will have zero effect on you when you divert your attention away from them.
Fam, get to identify such activities and start to work on cutting them off your list. This might be a hard nut to crack sometimes, especially when it has to do with habits that have been developed over time. For instance, it is not so easy to get distant from social media when you have become so attached to being there for the gists and laughs. It doesn’t happen in the twinkle of an eye, it’s a process that involves putting some measures and structures in place.
It is often said that whatever you feed grows to become a part of you, and whatever you do not feed dies a gradual death. The more you starve it, the more it dies. You see, the initial step to starving it or growing it is where the work seems to be. However, with a great level of willpower and discipline, you can make it happen. It first begins with your desire for a positive change.
Have it at the back of your mind that these activities you are saving your time, energy, and attention for are key to your growth and the better version of yourself that you desire to see. I believe that consciousness is going to further propel you in making the right choice, which is going in the direction of growth.
I believe that having a written to-do list every day will also go a long way in helping you get better at ticking your boxes daily. It is not just enough to have those plans in mind, you need to have them written and in between your eyes, where they can be seen as you go about your daily activities. At this point, let me recommend sticky notes to you. Those small, coloured notepads have been saving lives since forever. Write what you have to do on a piece and paste it in strategic places for your eyes to catch.
Another thing is to channel the use of your device in a more productive direction. The alarm clock is not just for waking you up, it is also a system of reminders. Set a time for your daily plans and write a statement that serves as a call to action. That statement has to remind you why it is important not to ignore the alarm at that time. You can even write something that draws a little guilt into the picture, it’s going to help you a lot.
Accountability is another treasure that cannot slip off your hands if you will get your priorities right. You need an accountability system that keeps you in check and reminds you of the things that matter the most at every crucial time. You need that system of correction, focus, and discipline. You need that system that cheers you on as you get better and pushes you even further to get the best out of you. Don’t look too far, they are in your immediate environment and your space.
As you progress, there might be some days that you don’t hit the target. For instance, the alarm that was supposed to get you on your feet was silenced or turns a lullaby on some days. When you eventually get up, you might feel remorseful. That is not a call to give up or feel like it’s not working for you. Take another go at it, and this time, you can even get help from another person just to ensure that you do not breach the agreement you have made with yourself.
Here’s a summary before we call this a wrap: some activities are so key to your self-development and goals, while some activities are mere distractions. Identify which one belongs to either category and put them where they belong. Bring the ones that are key to the forefront, while you relegate the ones that do not matter as much to the backyard. But first, it starts with identifying what your key goals are.
With this, we have come to the end of today’s post. Thank you for reading to this very point, you are a real blessing. I look forward to reading your thoughts and comments. I’ll see you in February. Till then, take good care of yourself ✌. ️
