3 Things You Should Say “Yes” To More Often
As I was reading Shonda Rhimes’ book The Year of Yes the other day, I started feeling like I wasn’t quite measuring up.
In my mind, I had been living the ‘year of yes’ since I was a college freshman, deliberately grabbing every opportunity that came my way, and I had decided that 2016 would essentially be my year of ‘no,’ for the first time in 12 years.
What a terrible idea, right?
Then I reminded myself that I wasn’t actually saying ‘no’ to everything; I was saying ‘no’ to more of the same, but I was saying ‘yes’ to new, different, and more quiet, low-key opportunities.
When I thought about it, and lumped together all the small, simple things that I’ve been saying ‘yes’ to in 2016, I realized they boil down to 3 important categories:
- Helping others
This is why I’ve always loved being in the classroom; I like to help students reach their potential in a very hands-on way. Since I’ve taken a short hiatus from the physical classroom, I decided I still needed to find ways to help people (I’ll admit, I kind of miss that rush), so I’ve made a habit of purposefully making at least one person’s day every day. Recently, I helped an overwhelmed and grateful friend put together IKEA furniture, on a weekly basis I go to a girl friend’s house to help with her new baby, bring snacks, do the dishes, etc. I might even just smile at someone who needs a smile, or say something extra encouraging to a student when grading papers online. It’s an easy habit to build when you realize it helps everyone and hurts no one.
- Making loved ones a priority
According to some study I read a very long time ago, one of the biggest regrets dying people have on their deathbed is that they worked too much and didn’t spend enough time with loved ones, so I’ve been working on that with all my might, despite my workaholic tendencies. My husband and I have stopped talking about work and potential business ventures on the weekends because that time didn’t feel well-spent, and my sister and I have started going on walks once a week to catch up. It’s about focusing on the people and feeling that kinship, rather than always fixating on what can get checked off the list.
- Taking time for yourself
This one was probably the hardest for me. I know people are always saying it’s important to take care of one’s self, but sometimes it feels easier to help someone else or accomplish something work-related. However, having established a slow-paced bedtime routine, regular workouts, and more normal work hours this year has helped me reflect and reduce stress. In other words, my body and soul is grateful.
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I’m not saying everyone should stop what they’re doing and dedicate all their time to helping others, spending time with loved ones, and relaxing, because I know life is busy. However, it’s important to consider your priorities on a regular basis, since it’s so easy to get turned around in this area.
Just ask yourself once in awhile, are the things I’m saying ‘yes’ to the things that matter most?
Happy learning, living, and growing.