What's the Best Bang for your Buck?

I have a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. I gave the first 4 years of my adult life earning that degree. Nowhere in my nursing education did I learn how to run a business! That training has all come since then through various courses, books, podcasts, and trial and error. One big concept for all business owners is to know which activities provide the best profit or return of investment. If you own a retail store, you’re likely not going to be selling winter coats when it’s 100 degrees outside. If you make jewelry, you’re likely not going to be making seashell jewelry if you live in the midwest. If you need a storefront, you’re likely not going to rent one for twice your average revenue. You don’t have to have a business degree to see the sense in this approach. 

Now, instead of revenue in your business, look at time in your life. What activities provide the best outcome for your time? Time is a resource we never get back. We never get this morning again. You will never have your child’s first Christmas again. We will never see another June 23, 1972, again. We only have the minutes we are living now and how we choose to spend that time is what creates the outcomes of our lives. At this moment, you’ve chosen to spend your time reading this blog-thank you!- this tells me that you are currently valuing your self-growth and personal development. That's great! We spend a lot of time doing a lot of things, but what gives you the most bang for your buck? 

Take a look at the last week. How did you spend your time? Outside of the “have to’s” of your day like feeding the kids and taking a shower. I’m talking about the amount of time you spent scrolling through social media or blankly staring at the TV. Maybe the time you spent organizing the pens in the junk drawer when you had a million other things on your to-do list. The things you do are choices you get to make that are fully in your control. Make a quick list of the activities you choose. Now take a look at your list of activities and tell me which of them brings you the most joy, the deepest peace. Do you find peace scrolling through social? Do you find joy after binging that TV show? Maybe there was joy in that afternoon bike ride with your kiddo or in seeing a movie with your partner. Maybe there was peace in organizing that junk drawer. It's up to you to decide which of these activities serves your highest good. Which activities are bringing you the most revenue? 

As always, I’m not here to judge you. If you truly find joy watching that TV show, girl watch it. If you truly find peace scrolling through social, then have at it. But if you realize that 3 hours have gone by and you haven’t gotten anything done and instead of feeling relaxed you feel more stressed, then maybe those activities are not the best use of your time. 

It’s important to remember here that you don’t have to be productive all the time. You don’t have to be working on that list every second of every day. It is okay to rest and relax. It is okay to get take out for dinner. It is okay to hire someone to clean your house for you on those extra busy weeks. What matters is the choice to do so. The choice to spend your time in a way that brings you peace and joy. Maybe today that is binging your favorite show. Maybe tomorrow that is knocking out that to-do list and not even looking at your phone. That is okay. As long as you are choosing what feels like the best way to spend your time today, instead of looking back on your day with feelings of guilt and disappointment. 

If you find yourself feeling like you need help making that choice, the one between powering through that to-do list and choosing to relax for a day, I’d love to hop on a call with you. Let’s talk about it in a Breakthrough Burnout Session.