The Life Diet

by Heather Long | More from this Blogger

28 Apr 2006 11:30 AM

You know the hardest part of following any lifestyle changes is that people do not have time? When surveyed, that's usually the answer most people give. They say they would love to exercise more - but they don't have time. They would love to be more involved in a project, but they don't have enough time. They would love to diet, but they don't have time to prepare all those meals.

The problem with our lives is that we are so busy, that we are literally juggling too much. We need to filter out what we don't want to do and don't need to do. You can filter non-specific activities from your daily life by identifying what you really do need to do.

For example, you need to take your kids to school everyday. You need to prepare dinners every night. You need to pay the bills. You need to take out the trash. But you probably don't need to clean out the closet in the guest room as well as do all the household chores, run fifteen errands and while planning to make 18 hand painted mugs for the kids next Scouts meeting.

Prioritize and eliminate the activities that you can. Perhaps set aside one day a week for the heavy cleaning. One day a week for miscellaneous projects and one day a week for running errands. By filtering your activities, you will provide yourself with better use of your own personal time. You will exert control over your day and your commitments.

It's unlikely that you are going to be making large sweeping changes right away. Stick to smaller, more deliberate changes that allow you to take it one step at a time. You will be able to spend your days how you want to with the people, tools and resources you enjoy.

So put your life on a diet. As you manage your time better, trim off the excess activities that you don't need to be committed to - you will be able to make your day better for you. This will help you sustain any lifestyle changes that a diet will require of you and expand your options.

Learn more about Heather Long

Heather Long is 35 years old and currently lives in Wylie, Texas. She has been a freelance writer for six years. Her husband and she met while working together at America Online over ten years ago.

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