Pick 3
How to prioritize when the whole world demands your attention
I once read that while you can do anything, you shouldn't do EVERYTHING.
I totally resonate with that, but it wasn’t always this way.
A few years ago, my sister told me that I should pick 3 priorities in life and focus on those. Anything more than 3, she said, and I'd probably start to feel adrift and like I was compromising one aspect or another. I don't know if she still swears by this rule, but I've found it to be a good starting point. To put it another way, I think she was saying, "Less is more."
At the time she said it though, I got frustrated because I wanted to do all the things, and couldn’t pick just three to focus on. I remember spending a good chunk of that afternoon trying to hone in on my top 3 priorities.
I have multiple interests, and I am taking multiple classes right now. However, I decided on which ones to prioritize by asking myself:
If I would use the information
How I would use the information
When I would use the information
Right now my priorities are my art, my education, and my business.
You'll notice my art is listed first. Even if it is not a huge part of my business, it is listed first because I simply enjoy being creative. It matters to me because it’s fun, rewarding, and relieves stress. Being creative allows me quiet time to get into the flow state. Painting, dancing, writing, and working on creative projects bring me joy and fill my cup to be able to do the other things.
Next, my education. At the time of writing this, I am taking two 25-hr continuing education yoga certificates, as well as one 100-hr course. I’m also 10.5 weeks into two college courses. I consider myself a full-time student between these classes. I think it’s immensely important to be a lifelong learner. (Hence my other Substack)
And then there's my business. This is also a high priority, and might even be tied with my education. They often go hand-in-hand. I have been writing a book that aligns with my brand, developing ideas for evergreen content, drafting new outlines for in-person classes, and posting higher-quality content with more consistency than ever before. I want my business to succeed, same as anyone else. Filtering what was going to help me in this endeavor vs. what wasn't was a challenge, but I feel like I'm making headway now.
Every person is going to have different priorities. I encourage you to leave a comment listing your top 3!
Picking 3 priorities is like downsizing your mental clutter.
And as we all know, decluttering is satisfying as all get-out. Don’t forget that your 3 priorities can and very likely will change! That’s ok; let them. It’s how you know you’ve grown.