Weeding the garden of your time

Tending the garden of your heart - Day 94

When it comes to gardening in the colder climates time is of great essence. The gardener knows that he or she needs to use the time wisely, observing the weather conditions and getting the seeds in the ground as quickly as possible - not too early due to frost that could kill the seeds and not too late so that the plants have a chance in the warm weather to bear fruit before the cold weather comes again. The gardener learns to use his or her time wisely to ensure a successful harvest.

Once our time is gone, we could never retrieve that moment, it is gone forever. Therefore observing how you use your time will give you indicators as to how it's being spent and what adjustments need to be made to gain the maximum benefit of your time.

6 tips to weeding the garden of your time

1) Observe your daily routines.

You'll begin to see patterns emerge - things that you do on a regular basis. Be the silent observer of you.

2) Prioritize your regular daily activities.

Which activities are high priority and which ones are low? In your rating of these priorities, are you placing low priorities before your high priority activities?

3) Look closer at your low priority activities.

Are these necessary to engage in or can you limit the amount of time you spend on your low priority activities to give more attention to those high priority tasks?

4) How would you feel if you got all of your high priority activities completed?

Would that give you a sense of accomplishment or even a sense of empowerment knowing that you've finished what you set out to do? Once you've completed your high priority tasks, then you can either focus on your low priority activities or look for other items which you can complete before engaging in low or non-essential activities.

5) Delegating

Some of your high priority items and even some of your low priorities can be delegated to free you up to get more done.

6) Measure the amount of time you spend on a project.

When you give yourself a certain amount of time to work on a project, i.e. 15 minutes, 30 minutes etc. you set yourself to work faster within the allotted time as opposed to just saying you'll finish the assignment without a time limit. You're tempted to go slowly using more time to complete the task than if you put yourself on a timer.

When you put a system in place using all of the above, you'll find you get more done within a shorter period as you continue weeding the garden of your time.

Weeding the garden of your career

Tending the garden of the heart - Day 92

Every seed contains in it the life it was meant to lead - cucumber seeds sown in soil to grow, blossom and bear cucumbers. Plants and trees follow their path, naturally. However, weeds can hinder the process if neglected and inhibit nutrients going to the fruit.

At times we find ourselves in careers that do not reflect who we are and our innate passion. This may be because we've considered the current career for only the monetary gain one gets from it and not from one's inner passion.

If you find yourself despising your job, your career, then, it is time to consider doing some weeding to getting into the place you were meant to be. Or if you find that your career is not fulfilling your inner passion and life purpose then you need to re-examine your position and move in the direction of beginning to make changes.

How do you weed out the garden of your career?

1) Decision

Knowing what you feel joy in doing or what you feel passionate about is the first step before you can make a decision to do what you love to do. Once you know that then you can move to the next step. What do you love to do?

2) Look for ways to get into the area of your passion.

If you are in a career you love generally but you are in one section that you despise, look for ways to get into the area of your passion.

For example, in the insurance industry, which was my previous field, there are many facets to work in, you could either be an agent or work in claims as an adjuster and even as an adjuster you could work as an auto adjuster, property adjuster, liability adjuster or all of these and more. So if you are currently an auto adjuster and hate it, but prefer being a proper adjuster, then, you look for opportunities to go in that direction.

Staying in a position that you hate is not healthy for your inner being and therefore you are not living your inner passion and fulfilling your destiny.

3) Develop the skills

If you feel that you lack the skills in what you love to do, stay where you are for now, if you can, and look for opportunities to develop the skills necessary for your area of passion. The internet is packed with information you can read on 'how to's'. You can go to your local library and get information, talk with other people in the field or even take local, online or correspondence courses.

If you'd like to start a business in your desired field but lack the confidence to do so, look for the opportunity to work with someone who is already in the field.

If you are open and willing to get out of your 'comfort zone' and take the risk of living your passion, doors will open for you to do what you desire to do one step at a time.

When you set your mind and intention to do what is natural for you and weed out the other things that are occupying your time, you'll find that you'll feel a sense of accomplish, joy and freedom in being you.

Take the steps necessary to begin weeding the garden of your career now.