Identify the ‘noise’ in your life.  All the things you leave undone, ignore or tolerate, actually drain your energy and sap your creativity.  Ignoring them doesn’t make them go away.  And tolerating or accepting them doesn’t lessen the negative impact they have on you.

Make a list of everything you can think of that would make you feel better if it were taken care of or dealt with permanently.  Organize your list into 4 major categories:

1. Physical Environment (examples: personal papers filed neatly, plants being fed and watered, clothes all ironed, adequate lighting, car in good repair, appliances working),
2. Relationships (examples: let go of old relationships, caught up with letters and phone calls, nothing ‘unsaid’ in current relationship, always tell the truth, spoken to parents recently),
3. Financial (examples: pay bills in-full and on-time, no credit card debt, save 10% of income, live within your means, up-to-date will and insurance), and
4. Health/Well-Being (examples: exercise regularly, don’t smoke, make healthy food choices, meditate daily, take vacations, think positively).

Make this list as long as you like.  Once you have your list, commit to deal permanently with at least one item per week.  As you quiet the ‘noise’ your life, you’ll have more natural energy and vitality.

Create some space for your new life to grow and take shape in.  Don’t suffer with this…. make a game of it and have FUN!

This is part of a complete step-by-step military retirement checklist. I’ll be posting weekly action steps here, so please subscribe over in the right-hand column so you’re sure to get each update.

All the things you leave undone, ignore or tolerate, actually drain your energy and sap your creativity. Ignoring them doesn’t make them go away. And tolerating or accepting them doesn’t lessen the negative impact they have on you.

Make a list of the ‘noise’ in your life…everything you can think of that would make you feel better if it were taken care of or dealt with permanently. Organize your list into 4 major categories;

1. Physical Environment (examples: personal papers filed neatly, plants being fed and watered, clothes all ironed, adequate lighting, car in good repair, appliances working),
2. Relationships (examples: let go of old relationships, caught up with letters and phone calls, nothing ‘unsaid’ in current relationship, always tell the truth, spoken to parents recently),
3. Financial (examples: pay bills in-full and on-time, no credit card debt, save 10% of income, live within your means, up-to-date will and insurance),
4. Health/Well-Being (examples: exercise regularly, don’t smoke, make healthy food choices, meditate daily, take vacations, think positively).

Make this list as long as you like. Once you have your list, commit to deal permanently with at least one item per week. As you quiet the ‘noise’, you’ll have more natural energy and vitality. Create some space for your new life to grow and take shape in. And please… Don’t suffer with this…. make a game of it and have FUN!

Recommended Reading List

* Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity, by David Allen

* The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy, by Valerie Ann Worwood

* The Complete Photo Guide to Home Improvement: With 300 Projects and 2,000 Photos (Black & Decker), by Creative Publishing International

* New Complete Guide to Landscaping: Design, Plant, Build, by Better Homes and Gardens