More Time BEING and less time DOING...

Hello Friends,

Some of you may have seen this video circulating around the interwebs. It talks about how as women (hell, all people, really) we focus on what we've gotten done, our resume of accomplishments, our list covered in red check marks... what do you have to SHOW for yourself? These women share that they would spend more time enjoying life and living in the moment. They share the mantra, "Spend more time BEING, not DOING."

So, what is a chronic DOER supposed to do? Many of you know: I make lists. I like to schedule everything. If it's important to me, it has a place on my calendar. It's always been about keeping busy, accomplishing, doing... I have FOMO - you know, the Fear of Missing Out. If I don't keep going, doing, working, moving, getting shit done, kicking ass and taking names, that I'll somehow miss out on some amazing opportunity.

With the latest Iteration of Awesome - Jen4.0, I've been busier I could have imagined. Good busy, but some days still feel overwhelming. The "To Do list" continues to push me around. Because, I mean, who wants to build up to the idea of what 'just right' is? I want just right RIGHT NOW! There is work to be done, emails to send, calls to make, social media to update, strategies to learn, workouts to write, research to do. I'm so thankful for a great team, at work and at home, and I'm finding that work feels less like work than all my previous iterations.

But, at what point do I put "BE" on my To Do List?

For a list maker like me, putting "BE" on my to-do list has become a new "DO". Sounds like an oxymoron. Let me explain.

I've made appointments to just "BE":

Yoga. 2 mornings a week where I can reconnect with my intention, feel my breath, listen to my body, and enjoy the company of others without feeling like I have to be the teacher or hostess.

Walks. Returning to daily (and sometimes twice daily) patrols with my furry boys. It's not just good for them, it's quiet time, creative time, and me time. I focus on conversations with them instead of running through my to-do list. I observe the neighborhood, enjoy the sunshine, feel the wind in my hair.

Bedtime. Sometimes I read, other times I've been getting to bed nice and early so I can feel fully rested the next day.

Coming soon - Gardening. I've got the garden prepped and most all the planting done. We've spruced up the back yard so I can spend more time just BEING - listening to the fountain and wind chimes, feeling the breeze, maybe even enjoy a fire pit on cool evenings.

I've been reading a fabulous book that has helped me with some ideas and tips on how to Level Up - but this is just taking my ultimate goals and breaking them down in to manageable quests/tasks. So, if my ultimate goal is to DO LESS and JUST BE MORE, the To DO list above is a great way to start.

Sure, there is more on my list - and I'll never be an idle person. But for me, finding a balance of DO and BE is priority. If you spend your whole life working from one thing to the next, when do you enjoy any of it? The time is now. Do AND be. 

It's maybe not the popular mindset, but it feels good to me. I'm working on making the DO become the BE, and when I get there, I'll know I did it right.

Love what you do, do what you love and JUST BE.

Until next time,
<3 Jen