By Nicole Levison

I had to rearrange my list of to-do’s today. Between our injured pet requiring treatment several times a day (yes, I am currently a cat caregiver), a doctor’s appointment to keep (I am nine months pregnant), responsibilities revolving around my job and small, inconsequential tasks like packing a bag for my upcoming hospital stay, laundry and housework, social commitments, and so on, well….

I feel a bit overwhelmed, which makes it an appropriate time to write an article on prioritizing.

Something’s Got to Give

Taking care of the basics like employment and domestic duties, regularly exercising, educating myself and growing spiritually, spending quality time family and friends, and maybe even indulging in some cultural extras like an art exhibit, live music, or a movie—something’s got to give. But what? How do you ensure that your health, home, job, and relationships are balanced while taking care of everything else that is required of you?

Oodles of opinions exist on how to set priorities and identify values, but not everyone has the money to hire a life coach or efficiency expert. As a caregiver, you may not even have the extra time to read the latest best-selling book on how to prioritize your time.

That’s why I’ve devised a simple guide to help define priorities.

• Identify your Goals. First you need to understand what is most important to you. Wealth, wisdom, security, family, relationships, community service? Pick your top values (not those of your family, or what you think should be your goals, or what your employer’s goals are…YOURS) and write them down. When you commit something to print, it becomes “real.”
• Make a Plan. List what you would like to accomplish on a daily basis! Making a list has been shown to help people actually accomplish everything on the list. Personalize your own plan of attack. Consider investing in tools such as a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), which stores phone book information, to do lists, calendars, important dates, and notes. Watch your efficiency jump!
• Allow for Flexibility. What was significant at age 20 does not necessarily hold the same importance at age 40 or age 60. Allow yourself to evolve, and reevaluate your goals, values, and priorities with each life step.
• Take Time Off. Often, a person who is unable to finish a task is not irresponsible; he or she is overwhelmed. Over-committing can be avoided by saying no or asking for help. And, any caregiver will tell you: the importance of respite cannot be overstated. We all need breaks, whether it’s a minute to breathe deeply or an entire week to rejuvenate.

At the end of the day, if you have applied organization basics and made every attempt to do your best, you will discover that your stress level drops and your self-esteem climbs.

As Abraham Lincoln so aptly said, “Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other one thing.”