Cutting out the unnecessary
Note: This should be dated August 15, 2022
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Update: When things don’t go as planned…
Motivate: Automate, Eliminate, Delegate
Book discussion: New read
Final thoughts
Update:
I hope you’re set to have a wonderful week! Lots has gone on this week at our house, but I’ve been surprisingly chill. I’ve dropped a few things that have stressed me out, and I’ve given myself permission to not rush.
I’m nearing the end of my first rounds of edits on THE LOVE PENTAGON, and I’m not where I thought I’d be. I’m going to have to go through the entire novel again. I’ve cut roughly 14,000 words at this point—entire scenes chopped—but I need to shave a little more off. So, I’m maintaining the “no rush” attitude, keeping calm, and doing it right.
( Continued below.)
Motivate:
Learning occurs through repetition (and mistakes). We can know something, but sometimes we need to be reminded of that thing we know…
I think it’s human nature (or modern culture) to put things on ourselves—rigid constraints—that simply don’t have to be there. We rush around adding tasks to our lists, and we feel bound by them. In essence we create our own stress.
I know that’s what I’ve done recently. I’ve been stressed by things that aren’t strictly necessary. When I’ve asked myself: does this thing really have to be on my schedule? If the answer is no, I consider if it’s something I can cut.
The healthcare provider I see in Nashville wrote a book called Wild and Well, 6 commonsense steps to radical health. In it, she briefly discusses mental health and cutting down on stress. (Stress damages the body and keeps you from being your best.)
I can’t remember the exact details of her advice, but months after reading it, a catchy phrase from the book remains in my head: Automate, eliminate, and delegate.
It involves looking your life over, examining what you do on a daily basis and seeing if it’s something you need to be doing.
Automate what you can. This is fairly straightforward. Simplifying your life by ordering online to avoid going out (unless you enjoy it), automating bills so you don’t have to remember to pay them, etc.
Delegate to who you can. I want to do it myself, but sometimes if it can be done by someone else, maybe I should allow it to free me up so I’m not overloaded.
Eliminate the stuff that doesn’t matter. Take a look at your life, with intention and nix what doesn’t bring joy or what doesn’t matter or what isn’t really necessary.
To avoid completely short-circuiting, we can examine, cut out the troubled spots, and find a healthy balance.
Book Discussion:
This is what I said last week:
As I said before, I decided to try the “sequels” to MAYBE SOMEDAY by Colleen Hoover.
I’m now 55% into MAYBE NOW, and I hate saying this so much, but I just want it to be over. I can’t stop because I’m too far in, but I’m ready to move on. (I know, I know. Life is too short. But this one is one I’m sticking with until the end for self-satisfaction.)
People, 70-ish% in, I stopped reading. I realized it just wasn’t worth my time. I took my own advice and opted for enjoyment instead of being dedicated just to be dedicated.
I decided to move on to Katherine Center’s new rom com: THE BODYGUARD. So far, I’m enjoying it a lot. I’m 36% in, and I look forward to every time I read.
I’ll keep you posted!
Final thoughts:
Are you creating stress in your own life? There is ENOUGH already present in life, and there is NO NEED to add more.
So, don’t add more. Inventory your day, your week, your life, and don’t be afraid to pull our your red pen and slap a big X over some things.
Realistically, there will be things you’ll want to slash that you can’t, but maybe there’s something you can cut that will lighten your load.
Are you flying on auto-pilot? Do you need to be doing that thing that’s stressing you out? You need to examine to find out.
Until next time, much glitter,
Melissa
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