When we’re working on a project or problem, we often ignore the rest of us.  For example, when we are working toward an important deadline at work, we often neglect our personal life;  when we are focused on our family, we often let our own health take a back seat.  It can be challenging to keep all the parts of us well at the same time.   Not doing so can have a pretty high cost:  our relationships suffer, our work performance declines, we feel stressed, we lose sleep, we are susceptible to disease, our mood suffers and on and on.    In the end, those costs negatively impact the thing we were originally focused on as well:  it’s hard to complete a task when we fall physically ill, hard to think clearly when we are exhausted, hard to get support from others when we are short tempered and moody. 

So how do we consistently pay attention to all of the parts of us at once?

1.  Create a clear vision for all aspects of your life:  personal, spiritual, financial, health, job/career, family, home, emotional, service, etc.

2.  Make a vision board for your life or for each aspect.  Keep that image in a place where you see it often.  Make it a compelling, pictoral creation that reminds and inspires. 

3.  Set specific, measurable goals for each area, the attainment of which will move you toward your vision.

4.  Schedule time each week to ‘work’ on each aspect of your life that is important.  NO EXCEPTIONS!  NO EXCUSES!  

5.  Create an evidence board.  Make note of the progress you make in each life area, no matter how small.  Focus on what you have accomplished vs. what you still have left to do.

6.  Don’t compartmentalize.   All of your parts are integrated.  You can’t be your best self unless you take care of all of you.

7. Pay attention to signals from your body, from your mind and from others that let you know you are losing sight of some aspect of yourself.  Respond to those messages promptly by revisiting your vision and goals and getting back on track with your plan.

8.  Put yourself first.  It is the only way you can be fully there for everyone else when they need you!