How can you bring your best self to various parts of your life?

This year I've had a driving desire for more structure. It's something akin to accountability, but the reality is that I want to be in the crucible of creation where it's hot and I'm under a bit of pressure. This is a strange thing to desire because none of it sounds comfortable. The true underlying longing is the desire to shine. To pass through the darkness and the fire. To be pulled from the ashes, buffed up and revealed as a surprise to all (including myself).

In my everyday life, this looks like a lot of experimentation. I've started groups, joined groups, read books, taken classes, talked about things, griped about things, and have ultimately teamed up with a life coach and a personal trainer for the external pressure I've been seeking out and trying to create. These people are giving me goals (with my input, of course) that are bigger and more focused than those I set for myself. These types of goals are not only providing but truly Demanding that I step up and take control of my time. They require focus, prioritizing and clear boundaries to make them happen. 

There's no denying that I'm in the cooker now.

Here's the reality check: I'm motivated and excited, *and* also at times quite a bit cranky. Mostly because I'm being required to cut the bullshit out of my life. I'm squirming under pressure and not in the flow yet at all. There are so many changes happening at once. I'm frustrated by distractions and see how I usurp my own energy. No one else usurps my energy (if I think they do, I'm ultimately allowing it). I'm re-learning a lot about myself.

My most recent big A-Ha! has been identifying my own natural highest-energy point of my day. This is the time when I have or can easily cultivate focus. This needs to be the time for my highest-priority tasks for the day.

I happen to have great energy in the morning. This doesn't mean I jump out of bed raring to go (yet... I feel this youthful energy returning) but this time of day is easy for me to focus and hold boundaries. I'm not likely to wander down a rabbit hole of social media. I can easily make a priority list for myself and start doing it. Especially if I've started my day with exercise or physical movement. That jump starts my engine and keeps me from being a caffeine-guzzling distracted slug stuck in one spot but feeling busy, anxious and overwhelmed (true story, this happens).

The actual A-Ha! has been around how much I sabotage myself by arranging meetings, appointments and random things during my mornings. I've given my high-energy time to my dentist, elaborate self care routines, email and social media. When my morning is filled with meetings, talking or the aforementioned items that take energy output, I've got nothing in the tank for the afternoon because that's my low-energy time of day anyway. This leaves me grasping and reaching for simple projects, inspirational stuff, caffeine… anything to try to refuel. And by the end of the day, I'm not much closer to many of my dreams and goals.

What's true for me now is that I'm refueled by connecting with my body, doing deep work, and getting high-priority things done that I need and want to get done. Shockingly I then feel more confident and have a decent amount of energy heading into the afternoon. I'm totally fine with down-shifting. The afternoon is great for meetings, check ins, self care appointments, checking email, and doing follow up work that doesn't take higher-energy creative juice. I want that creative juice for developing content, strategizing, recording podcasts and videos, and all manner of artistic expression. And I love the idea that an early-morning push can be rewarded by a laid back afternoon so I have more energy for personal connection in the evening. I think I fear a high-energy morning, thinking I'll have to maintain that all day and eventually result in burnout. Nope. I'm looking at energy building and how to work with what I've got when and how to support transitions rather than wall-hitting crash-n-burns at the end of the day. I like a big take off, a long, smooth, easy landing so I'm smiling, fulfilled and loving at the end of the day. I want my physical body, my work, my Love and my friends to each get the best of me. And you know what? It's up to me to bring my best — not up to them to pull it out of me (that is also the impetus behind adding coaches to my team; a good coach can pull it out of me while working with my strengths).

Have you been spilling your creative juice? Or sabotaging your personal best time of day by prioritizing social media, YouTube, email and other responsive habits rather then prioritizing yourself, creation and soul-serving work? I hope not, but I know I've fallen prey to it and would love to hear about any strategies you use to keep your priorities straight.

I'm starting to block off times on my calendar to prioritize those things I most cherish and that proactively support my life, energy and goals — romantic time with my Love, days with no work (not always a weekend), weekly review & planning time, food & fitness planning, dreaming, mind dumping, socializing, learning new things, etc.

Is there any strategy you can implement to intentionally bringing your best self to various areas of your life?