I think a key thing about priorities is that their relative importance will wax and wane over time and that is quite fine and natural. For example I have priorities of "be healthy" and "be serene". Maybe there will be a week when I'm not serene because I'm let's say doing wild swordfighting activities at a once-in-a-lifetime swordfighting school. So for that week my "be healthy" priority takes charge. That's fine! There'll be another week where I can focus on being serene.

I think the important part about priorities is being aware of them and making sure the time spent is at least being spent on *one* of your priorities. If a person spends weeks and weeks on some task that isn't even closely related to any priority at all, that would be the time to sit down and look at things.

So certainly many of our editors have health issues and during the health issue flare times, caring for our health is the most critical thing. Other items like "organize the kitchen" can wait!

Hi Lisa, your comment reminds me of the definition of a "good manager of life" versus a "bad manager of life." The bad manager does things right but the good manager does the right things. (JOY)

Right now, my priority is to complete my academic studies and my pet project "Neobian" :)

Dear Joy -

I'm reading this message in many of the various books I'm going through recently - that just being "busy" and slaving away is a waste of time if you're slaving towards a goal you don't really want. It's so easy to get caught up in that pattern, too!

Hi Lisa, yes, here's a succinct sentence about that: "Spend time on doing the right things rather than doing things right" i.e., don't waste precious time doing the wrong things to perfection! (JOY)

Fall is coming and this is a perfect time to revisit our priorities and see if they need tweaking! Mine are currently -

OVERALL PRIORITIES
* Help Others Directly
* Help Others Help Themselves
* Be Healthy
* Be Serene
* Be an Eternal Student
* Organize my World

I'm feeling iffy about the eternal student one now It sounds like someone who stays in college for 10 years because they want to party hearty. I want to always learn ... and I want to learn in service of doing my life tasks better. I wonder how I should phrase that!

I do feel happy with my priorities in general and I think I'm making good progress towards them!

For my mental health priority (my one main priority right now), I have one short term goal right now - to take my first set of meds *before* i get out of bed, and to remember to take my afternoon meds each day. I have been having trouble being reliable about this and want it to be a habit. I need it to be a habit.

I do have various support systems - weekly peer counseling, a weekly case manager meeting, a weekly self esteem class and a weekly WRAP class (sort of a recovery program for mentally ill clients).

Physical health priority - I have made appts with a my new dr to talk about various health concerns and plans for my care. And to make sure i do get in at least 15 minutes of movement each day, plus some fiber, one fruit and one veggie daily, or else take vitamins and powder fiber. (i am trying to keep this uber simple until these things are habits).

So there it is right now - health. And that really is plenty for my plate at this time.

Hi Lisa, here are some thoughts. You could rephrase 'eternal student' to 'eternal student of Life' or 'learn more about my Self'. (JOY)

Hi Jilly, your goal of 'Health' is a great one as it can be short, medium and/or long term. With 'Health' under control, life becomes so much easier to handle. (JOY)

Right on! I so identify with you !! LOL Thank You for your post... The whole having a new priority each week with your ADD.... gotta love it!! I sooooo understand what you mean! Thank You and I hope you are able to keep focus on what is most important to you... I know I deal with theses things daily, weekly and monthly as well... But we are creative... and are able to compensate and overcome any obstacles that we are dedicated to... And when WE Do... IT IS BRILLIANT... So Keep It Up !!! Lovin Life~