Grab your journal and your The LOTUS Within book and get after the seven habits. Let’s
start with Habit 1: Be Proactive.
Habit 1: Be Proactive
Don’t let life just happen to you. Take charge of the aspects you can control. This is why it is important to be proactive in finding your ikigai, knowing your values and your SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) both personally and professionally.
Being proactive means taking responsibility for your choices, behaviors, and actions, rather than waiting for circumstances to shape your life. It’s about having the power to influence your own path, even when external factors are beyond your control.
One of the best ways to harness this habit is through strategic planning, effective time management, and prioritization. As women, we often juggle multiple roles – from professional responsibilities to personal and family commitments.
By proactively identifying what matters most and aligning our actions with those priorities, we can create more balance, productivity, and satisfaction in our lives.
Strategic Planning: Map Out Your Priorities
Strategic planning begins with setting clear goals that align with your values. Knowing your “why” – your purpose, vision, and what truly matters to you – can act as your guiding compass. This is the foundation for making better decisions and investing your time in the areas that will help you grow both personally and professionally.
Start by asking yourself: What do I want to achieve in the next month, quarter, or year? What roles do I want to prioritize? Is it career growth, family, personal development, health, or something else? Being proactive in defining these priorities will help you craft a plan that aligns with your true desires.
Time Management: Create a Daily Roadmap
Once you know your priorities, the next step is managing your time effectively. This is where proactive time management comes into play. A time audit can be an eye-opening exercise.
Track how you currently spend your time for a week, and identify areas where you may be wasting time or could be more efficient.
From there, you can create a schedule that reflects your priorities and includes time for the most important aspects of your life.
The key to time management is not just about doing more tasks but doing the right tasks at the right time. Proactively scheduling your day by blocking out time for important activities (including self-care!) will help you stay focused and avoid distractions.
Prioritization: Focus on What Matters
Prioritizing is essential to being proactive. Sometimes, we say “yes” to too many things out of a sense of obligation or guilt. Learning to say “no” to less important tasks can free up time for what matters most. This is where knowing your values and priorities truly helps.
Ask yourself: Is this task moving me closer to my goals? Is it aligned with my values? If not, it's okay to pass.
The Eisenhower Matrix, which divides tasks into four categories (urgent and important, important but not urgent, urgent but not important, neither urgent nor important), is an excellent tool for prioritization. Focus your energy on the tasks that are both important and urgent, while delegating or eliminating the rest.
Example of a SMART Objective:
To demonstrate how proactive planning and prioritization can work in real life, let’s set a SMART objective:
S - Specific: I will improve my work-life balance by committing to exercise for 30 minutes every morning before starting work.
M - Measurable: I will track my progress by logging the time spent exercising each day in a journal or app.
A - Achievable: I will prepare my workout clothes the night before, so I can start my day without delays.
R - Relevant: Regular exercise will improve my health and mental clarity, which will help me be more productive at work and present for my family.
T - Time-bound: I will implement this routine for the next 30 days, reassessing after the first month to see if I need to adjust my schedule or goals.
By proactively planning your time and setting clear goals, you create a path to success that is tailored to your life and values. This approach not only helps you be more productive but also ensures that you are investing your energy in what truly matters.
Conclusion
Being proactive in how you plan, manage your time, and prioritize tasks is an empowering approach for women. When you take charge of your choices and actions, you become more intentional about your life.
Strategic planning, effective time management, and prioritization are not just tools for success; they are ways to honor your values, maximize your potential, and achieve greater fulfillment.
So, don’t wait for life to happen to you. Start today by being proactive and creating a roadmap for your personal and professional success.
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