Edit your life, get your time back 🛀

It's so simple, it's kinda funny. 💁

So, you might have noticed I’m prone to living my life in too many directions at once. My thoughts are like a (new word!) clowder of cats, scattering in all directions. It takes a concerted effort for me to choose what’s most important, at any given moment, and give it my full attention.

I’m learning, though. As I get older, I’m becoming more protective of my time. I’m increasingly aware of how fleeting life is. The clock ticks. We’re always one breath closer to our last. It’s a tension that comes up a lot in Field Notes: life is short; how are we spending our time? And are we being present to it?

This past week has been particularly nuts, with my husband on photo shoots, a kid sick, a few speaking gigs to prepare for, and nothing in the fridge. So by the time I got in the car on Thursday night to go speak at an event, I hadn’t eaten, felt like a baby on Red Bull, and had a migraine moving in. 🙄

But the universe has a way of speaking to us when we’re really not listening.

Before I reversed out of the driveway, I brought up my podcast list and saw that Martha Beck had a new episode of The Gathering Room. It was aptly titled, There’s Less to Do Than You Think (linked below).

My inner voice, the really annoying one, started shouting: But, tax season is coming up! I have kids to shuttle places! Businesses to run! A book to promote! An exercise routine!

Photo by Karolina Grabowska.

Just breathe, Meghan. Breathe.

I listened to the podcast. And it dawned on me that it’s in the minutiae of things that I get trapped. All those things above are true (tax, kids, and businesses aren’t going anywhere). But too often I get stuck in the muck of emails I don’t need to read and don’t need to be answering, of doing favours for people who never reciprocate or even reach out to me, of rewriting this newsletter way too many times, of wiping the counter again because the crumbs drive me crazy.

Another thought came to mind while I was listening to the podcast. I am a professional editor. My job is to help people tell the best story they can and to be rigorous in their writing to make sure each word belongs. Editing involves trimming sentences, finding ways to say things concisely, choosing different words, and rearranging. It requires discernment. The point is to cut the fluff.

I realized then that I could be editing my life, too. 😮

In her podcast, Beck encourages her readers to evaluate their tasks: if you don’t want to do it, and certainly don’t need to do it, don’t do it. It’s so simple, it’s kind of funny. She champions the idea of doing less and making sure that, whatever you do, it’s on purpose.

What I think this comes down to for me is taking moments to pause before I dive in. Some tangible examples of this are: scanning my inbox for any fluff I can dismiss or move to junk; weighing new calendar items against my schedule, how I want to be spending my time, and with whom; noticing when I’m toggling or multi-tasking; and acknowledging when my people-pleasing nature is taking over.

My lordy, this is going to be hard. But, eventually, I think these things will become second nature, and I won’t need to stop and assess as often. Another helpful tool will be letting go of the myth that there’s always so much to do. I mean, what’s really important, my friends?

Sometimes editing means swapping one thing for another. It’s not just a matter of cutting things out, but introducing the things I want more of: walking in nature, yoga, reading, cooking, and all the things on my Ten Most Important Things list (that I sent to my paid subscribers).

Here’s to doing less, doing more of the things we love, and trusting the world won’t fall apart.

Is anyone else keen on editing their life this month? What can you edit out of your life right now?

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What’s caught my attention lately… ✨

• There’s Less to Do Than You Think - this episode of Martha Beck’s The Gathering Room introduces some interesting ideas about how we perceive our time.

• Collisions of Earth and Sky: Connecting with Nature for Nourishment, Reflection, and Transformation - Heidi Barr’s latest book comes out on January 31. For my personal thoughts on it, you can check out my review on Goodreads!

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Check these out too… 🙌

Lights to Guide Me Home: A Journey Off the Beaten Track in Life, Love, Adventure and Parenting - my memoir

The Wonders That I Find - my children’s book

My Email Newsletter - updates about my books, projects, and 1:1 coaching

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