Prioritizing my Week
This past week was nonstop running. Between work, doctor’s appointments, school concerts, sick kids, you name it, I barely had time to get groceries. As a result, I really needed to take a step back and remember what I truly needed to prioritize. Now for each family, this may look a little different, especially depending on the additional support you may have.
For a little bit of background, I am thankful that I have the support of my grandmother and husband. With them our house is full of chaos, so without them, I can’t imagine what it would be like! Looking back at my week, this is what made it to the top of my list.
Priorities
- Work – Need a paycheck for those bills!
- Taking care of sick kids
- While I worked, my grandma was able to help here
- Attending my Daughter’s Concert
- Supporting my kids, every opportunity I get!
- Sleep!
- Without this, I would have been the next person sick.
- Light exercise
- I spent a minimum of 15 minutes a few days this past week to ensure I took care of myself. Often, this was a walk around my neighborhood.
It Adds up Fast
While my list of priorities may seem small, it added up quickly. I ended up putting in a few extra hours at my full-time job this past week, so with the 40 minutes it takes to get to and from work, it left little time for anything else those days. On my midweek day off (perk of working four 10-hour shifts), I had multiple appointments for the kids and me, then it was a rush home to finish dinner and get to my daughter’s concert. She did amazing!
Due to my 5-year-old being sick on that day off, I was unable to complete a few tasks that I was hoping to get to. There were baskets of clothes to take care of, some meal prepping that didn’t happen, and getting the groceries. I left all of that for the weekend, but that allowed me to be present with my kids who needed me more.
Prioritization Considerations
When I go into a week that starts more hectic than I anticipate, I need to reset my expectations. I take into consideration Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. My family last week was in the Safety category. We were all in need of taking better care of our health, while also trying to care for others. This graph is a great representation of humans’ basic needs, and how if they are not met, you won’t reach the top of the pyramid, Self-actualization.
Reminding myself of Maslow’s Hierarchy allows me to set expectations that will be attainable and realistic for my family. This way, if I don’t get to all of those projects that I had planned, I will know it is because I had other needs that needed to be prioritized.
End Result
In the end, my week did not go exactly as planned. However, by the time the weekend came around, everyone in the house was in better spirits. Those baskets of clothes were taken care of, the lawn was mowed, the outdoor toys were washed, and most importantly, I spent time with my family.
The icing on the cake that I found the time to take my 15-minute walk this Saturday, and saw this beautiful Sunset.
I would love to hear how you prioritize what needs to be completed in a week. Comment below, on my Facebook page, or send me an email! If you are interested in personal life coaching, Click Here to learn more. Thank you for taking the time to read this article.