Photo by Alan Cleaver
We are now firmly established in 2012. How ya doin' on those goals you set last month? 
Me? Not so good.
I'm stressed.
As Seth Godin says in this interview with Michael Hyatt, stress is simply "what happens when you want to do two things at the same time."
(Sidenote: So what's it called when you want to do about 5 things at the same time? But anyway…)
Recently I read 31 Pro Tips for a Successful, Satisfying, and Insanely Profitable 2012 (copyblogger.com). There are a ton of great tips in there.
The tip that is right on
As I'm looking at my schedule and feeling like I've made little headway in the productivity department (why do I feel like I'm barely managing let alone getting ahead?), Jon Morrow's tip, from Boost Blog Traffic, hit me between the eyes:
Instead of just setting goals for this year, also set sacrifices. Here’s the idea: your life is already too full, and if you’re going to add anything, first you have to take something out. So, decide what you will sacrifice. Is it your family? TV time? Perfectionism? Sleep? Job security? For every goal, choose one sacrifice.
My addendum to the tip
Here's the thing. When we're talking about a full schedule, even if we don't set sacrifices on purpose, we set sacrifices by default.
If I heap another thing on my already full plate, guess what? Something is going to fall off. It's not a question. It just is. Sadly, the things that tend to fall off my plate are my kids or my husband or other relationships that are important to me.
I'm not okay with that.
I have not done enough sacrificing (and this coming from someone who wrote a book on the subject). I have not practiced what I've preached.
The moral of the story? Setting sacrifices on purpose is significantly better than setting them by default. (<–tweet this)
What about you? Have you sacrificed anything this year to make room for your goals?
Funny because I was JUST thinking about your book and how I need to focus on getting more balance in my life. I want to do EVERYTHING at once and have only the same 24 hours as everyone else. My problem is that I'm sacrificing TOO much of everything else to meet one goal..when instead, I need to devote time to all the things that are important and maybe ease back on the expectation for the 1 goal that's consuming too much time.
Well if it makes you feel any better, this is a CONSTANT struggle for me too.
Thank you for such an inspiring post. It's very easy to get overwhelmed with goals that we have set for ourselves all the while choosing a default sacrifice. Sadly, I agree, that is often my family. For me, a huge part of the solution is getting up before my family and planning my day, so that everything I do is intentional. Days well planned go so much better.
Being intentional is so key. I totally agree.
g;day Amy! Another sensational post! thanks – I love that "what are we when we want to do 5 things!" I totally understand
I'm always saying "here's the thing" atm too! go figure – maybe it's the next "seriously?" haha
btw, I got another 100 pics from flickr with your email. Just letting you know! HAVE A GREAT DAY!
Annie
Great minds think alike.
About the pictures….argh. Am experimenting a bit so that's helpful to know. Thanks!
Amen! Can you believe my husband and I were "just" talking about this very thing yesterday on our way to church? Thank you for this article
We were too (this morning)!
Never thought about it like this, but it makes so much sense.
Today is the first day that I visit your blog, and it could not have been a better day to do it. I really needed to read this to start my week off right.
Glad you stopped by, Shirley!
Love that quote! And it is so true … I did sacrifice some things this month (well January) so I could focus on my goals. And I refuse to feel bad about it!
"Sacrifice by default" that is a keeper indeed. I have given up some tv and computer time and it has been well worth it. Thanks for the reminders on its effectiveness. I tend to always look at what needs to be accomplished and not at what has already been accomplished:)
Love this quote – "Here's the thing. When we're talking about a full schedule, even if we don't set sacrifices on purpose, we set sacrifices by default."
Isn't that the truth?! I've definitely been trying to be more intentional this year, but gosh it's so hard to keep on top of my priorities some days when there's so much to do, and like you said, often my family is the first thing to go. (I hate that!) Thanks for putting what I need to focus on into words . . . now I've just got to figure where the sacrifices can be made.
You articulated something that's been rattling around in my head for months! The reform(ing) perfectionist in me says, "It's OK. If you're doing this one thing right now, that means you can't be doing this other thing. No worries." While the die-hard type-A person inside says, "Not acceptable. I should be able to achieve both things. Right now. No excuses. Or you fail."
It's really helpful to think of it along those terms – goals mean sacrifices. Thanks!
Oh I hear the same voices. Glad I'm not the only one!
This post is so incredibly timely for me today. I have limited time to work during the days (during my son's naptime) and I was feeling so overwhelmed with the sheer number of things I needed to accomplish today and the little amount of time in order to do it.
The stress of it all meant I didn't actually sleep well last night, so like I said, amazing timing. Your post helped me focus on one project at a time, so although I'm not going to get everything done today, I'm feeling good about what I AM accomplishing and my productivity level, rather that freaking out that there is so much to do and getting none of it done.
Thanks, Amy!
Yes, looking at what is done rather what's not is so helpful!
Boy does this hit home. I just started blogging like 4 weeks ago so I am so new to this, but I made goals. Everyday I have a To Do List for my Blog, YouTube Channel, Twitter & so fourth. It's tough because with family, home, work (outside of home) I find myself spending alot of time in my home office instead of doing things I really enjoy to get my Blog off the ground. I want to work hard of course, but I don't know what should be done first in my home/office. Thanks for sharing this with us..
Good Words!
Thank you for your insight. It was timely.
Dawn
SO TRUE!!!! Every week, I feel like I am trying to rebalance my schedule and stick to my boundaries. I love the idea of choosing the sacrifice. Thanks for sharing…I am linking your post on my facebook.
Wow, this was an excellent post! I have been learning this the hard way. I tweeted your moral, and am posting this on Fb!
I love the definition of stress – I can completely related to that statement. And I like setting sacrifices on purpose instead of by default. I've definitely made sacrifices some I can live with, some I can't and I've had to make changes accordingly.
Amy – great post. I just learned this principle in the last few months by lreading the "21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership" by John Maxwell. But you have summarized it beautifully here. Identifying the things I'd have to sacrifice to reach my goals this year has really reduced the stress burden.
Love your 'tweet this' button in the text – any chance we'll get a tutorial on that in the future? That's the coolest thing I have seen in a while…
Oh yes.
One of the biggest causes of my stress is procrastination.
I Do have a lot on my plate, of course, but I also waste a lot of time pretending I'm working-
e.g. checking my stats again, checking my email again, reading way more blogs than I need to, updating my Facebook status and then losing time to Facebook and on and on….
My goal is to identify why I'm procrastinating and figure out how to reduce some of those distractions.
Thanks for another thoughtful and thought provoking post, Amy.
Oh, ME too!
This is a very timely topic for me too as I am currently evaluating both my paid work and volunteer work to figure out how I should be spending my time. I tend to take on too many roles. I actually think it's a blessing that three new opportunities came my way this week. There's no way I can do all of them, so it's forcing me to make some decisions and say no to some of them. And I'm also looking at what things currently on my plate need to go so I can make room for one of the new opportunities. I like the stress definition, but I would add that stress also comes from working outside your areas of strength.
"I tend to take on too many roles." <–right there with ya on that! I like your addition to the definition of stress. Thanks, Terri.
I totally tweeted your line about sacrificing by default! I hate that because it's so true..I better do something about it!
Blessings!
Thank you Shari.
Love this idea! Really, every time we take on something new we're choosing to give up something else. It's best to be intentional about that.
Amy! You often say you aren't a writer but I beg to differ! Your words are to the point yet unoffensive. I had to do this as my kids got older. Lucky for them (I think) I sacrificed a clean house. I love a spotless house but something had to go and that seemed like the best choice.
God bless you. You help so many! Including me.
Thank you Kim. I'm trying to rid myself of the "I'm not a writer" talk. I write therefore I'm a writer. That's what I'm going with (even if it makes me squirm a bit).
I'm not sure if others felt this way in school growing up, but it seemed like you were either a writer type or a math type. For some reason everyone was split into those camps. Maybe it was just in my head. TOTALLY possible. Anyway, I was definitely in the math camp and much preferred the "see the problem, get the answer and it never changes" solutions. Writing was so subjective it was frightening. I'm trying to see it as freeing though. Just trying to teach myself a new way of looking at it. I appreciate your encouragement and I'm so glad this site is helpful!
Amy, that is too funny! I was in the "writing" group because I wasn't great at math and was always afraid of not getting the correct answer. I could be a writer whether anyone liked it or not. Funny how we things thing so differently when we look at them from each other's point of view!