Blog
Life Integration
by Amy Riley
March 11, 2011
Next week Tiara is having a FREE TeleConnect about Life Integration. I’m excited to continue and deepen this inquiry that we have in our Tiara programs. I need the reminder that there is always the possibility to expand what we’re up to without simply adding more hours to the day. I know it’s possible because I’ve had that experience. For example, I started running last year. And if I run for a 1/2 hour during a day, it doesn’t necessarily mean that I’ve added a 1/2 hour to my daily schedule. I know that I work through issues in my head while I’m running, that it gives me more energy to be more productive during the day, and that I sleep better at night when I’ve exerted energy running that day. I’m sure there are other ways that running is integrated into my life of which I’m not even fully aware.
The problem is that I often forget that integration is a possibility. This past week I have felt anxious about my “full” schedule. I’m thinking about how I’m barely getting it all done now AND I want more in my life. I want more client projects, I want more time with my friends, and this summer I’m going to start training for the marathon I’ll run in October. I’ve been freaking out this week asking myself about how I’ll fit in more.
I’ve been calming down since I reminded myself of the following:
- I don’t know how I’ll integrate it all and it’s okay to not know how. At one point taking 2 kids to daycare seemed like an impossible feat and now I do easily, without thought every weekday.
- Everything gets handled. It always does! Some how or another we all take care of the important aspects of our lives.
- I can bring a playful perspective. I don’t know how, but I can play with some possibilities. Can I get a jogging stroller to run with one of the kids? Can I share upcoming projects with my business partners in different ways? Can we set up regular play dates with grandparents?
- I can remind myself of my values. When making choices about how I want to spend my time, I can consider which activities are most closely aligned with what I say is most important to me.
How do you integrate your life? How do you take on more without simply adding more hours to your day? (Please share. I’d love to steal some of your brilliant ideas!)
Amy, I love the integration idea and I also love that you are reminding us that it isn’t about just adding to an already full plate.
Some integration ideas that have worked for me:
- exercise with my sister – even if it is only once a week – it allows us to catch up and look/feel better and not add a separate appointment to our week.
- My business partners and I have switched some of our weekly meetings from being face-to-face, to being conference calls. Not all of them, but enough so that we still stay connected, but at the same time, we all save commuting time on both ends of the call. A nice little perk.
- trying to connect with my college age sons was challenging and we kept missing each other and never feeling like we had connected – so we set up a short 5-10 minute standing call for Wednesday nights at 8:30 PM. He calls me and we update each other, it’s great to hear his voice (and not only a text), and I don’t keep him longer than we agreed. It feels great and removes hours of “mom thinking” each week.
Those are some of the things that I have incorporated so far this year. What I love about an integration mentality is that 1+1=3! It is positive energy and enables my MOJO to keep flowing.
Thanks, Beth