What To Cut

One of the most valuable lessons you will ever learn is how to cut the "right things" out of your daily routine.  And ironically, what makes them the "right things" to cut is actually the fact that they are the "wrong things" to be spending your time on.

Here's what I mean; there are endless possibilities awaiting your attention every moment of every day.  You could easily spend 3 hours watching senseless YouTube videos or getting caught up in reading stranger's comments on Facebook.  Or you could get suckered into someone else's drama.  Or you could read 7 blogs that have nothing to do with anything remotely important to your life.  You get the picture.

One essential key to having margin in your life (and margin is THE necessity for a vibrant relationship with God, your family and your closest friends) is knowing WHAT TO CUT.  Like writing a good book or turning in an A+ research paper, excellence is not found in volume.  It is found in precision.

Here are 5 practical ways you can know what to cut out of your life.

1.  Don't return every single communication you receive.  Honestly, if you added up tweets, texts, Facebook, LinkedIn, Google+, and emails...if you are replying to EVERYONE then you are not really paying attention to ANYONE.

2.  Turn stuff off.  Recent research indicates the more "connected" we are electronically (phones, tablets, laptops, etc.), the less engaged we are overall with human beings.  People who are most distracted by media and technology are also less pateint, more irritable, and have higher stress levels.  The OFF button is a powerful little tool.

3.  Go to bed.  Such an easy thing to do!  Your body tells you when it's time to call it quits, so listen to your body and resist the driving urge to get online late at night or watch something stupid and meaningless on TV.  It may take weeks to train yourself to go to bed early, but you will live longer and be healthier physically and emotionally.

4.  Pay attention to stress-sources.  What relationships cause your heart rate to sky-rocket?  What people make you want to scream? Do you have personal habits that always make you feel tired, guilty, or confused?  Avoid the things, people, and places that drag you down or hinder your spiritual growth.  Some people cannot be helped and some habits need to be stopped.

5. Throw stuff away.  Clutter is the great enemy of focus.  Trust me, I know.  Open your mail when you get it.  Pay your bills early.  Delete emails you don't need.  Clean off your desk, fold your clean clothes, and get some order to the small things that surround you.  When in doubt, throw it out.

What are some practical ideas you have on knowing what to cut out of your daily life?  Is there anything you have a hard time letting go of?