Are you a highly organised or totally disorganised person? Do you make plans well ahead of time or leave them to the last minute? Do you like everything to be exactly right or is near enough good enough?
All types of people have their strengths and weaknesses, there is no right or wrong. The highly organising, planning and exactly right type of people are usually stressed out trying to keep their lives just the way they like or need it. While totally disorganised, non-planning, and near enough is good enough people tend to be more laid back but usually rush around at the last minute or are late. Most of us would do well to be somewhere in the middle, but change is not always easy.
For most of my life I have been a highly organised, planning and exactly right type of person. I tended to make allowances for mistakes for everyone else, but was very critical on myself. When I did something I would do it the very best that I could, then look at how I could improve on that. I always liked to be early for everything and stress terribly if I was running late, even if it is only a minute or two. I extremely disliked putting others out or asking for help, but would go to great lengths to help other people.
However, being so demanding on myself did not proved a benefit, but more like a curse especially when I was not well. So over the last few years I have slowly been changing. Instead of working myself to the bone all day every day, I take time out to sit and rest at regular intervals. If the work that I plan to do does not get done – whether it is the house cleaning, washing clothes and folding them, watering the garden, writing, social media, etc. – I just leave it till a later time. However, I must note here that my house is always respectable, but not perfectly clean as I kept it for some time. If I think I am going to be late for an appointment, I phone ahead and let them know. Then take the time I need to get there without stressing over the time and being late; or I reschedule the appointment for another time.
In making these changes for my life it allows me to make plans but not stress out if things change at the last minute. Last month I mentioned about a trip I was going to take. Usually I start organising and packing about 4 weeks before I am planning on leaving, and nearly everything is packed at least 2 weeks before. However, for this trip I was leaving on the Thursday and only the Monday afternoon beforehand I started packing. The biggest difference – I wasn’t stressed about forgetting where I put everything and I was still as organised as ever, without the stress of having bags half packed around for weeks!
We need to keep in mind that change is good. Without change a caterpillar would never turn into a beautiful butterfly; we would not have several seasons each year; and children would never grow up – although I am certain that some never do now. :-) However hard we may find it, every one of us needs to make changes in our lives. Are you ready for the changes you need to make in your life?
Until next time – remember, safety first!