Taking it Off Your Plate

“You can do anything, but not everything!”

It’s arrived and?Thanksgiving dinner possibly marked your first attempt of the holiday season to make a choice.? It did for me because a nine inch dinner plate can only accommodate so much food; choices must be made.? This year it began with the basics; Turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes and the roasted brussel sprouts.? Fortunately, there was a side dish for the rolls, the gravy goes on the top, so it really doesn’t take up room.? But what about the sweet potatoes, glazed carrots, cranberry sauce and salad?? The dilemma confronted me.? Do I position the food, and take a smaller portion of everything, or simply go back to the buffet table and reload?on a second walk through. Then again there is another option, maybe I should simply take something off my plate.? Easier said than done! ?

We live in a busy world.? There are too many emails, and after trashing the junk, there will still be several that need a response. There are calls to make, preparation for an upcoming meeting, and arrangements to finalize for that trip to Boston next week.? Then there is the homefront; groceries to pick up, kids practices to attend, and holiday shopping to be completed.? And like the mythical Sirens, social media beckons, as do our hopes and dreams.

When we take things off our plate, it’s like decluttering our mind. Having too much on our plate can lead to feeling overwhelmed and stressed, and we all know how that can impact our daily interactions with family, friends and colleagues.? Removing some tasks or responsibilities can give us the breathing room we need to focus on what truly matters,? and to do it well. In?essence, it's?about maintaining a healthy balance, and metaphorically speaking, not biting off more than you can chew.??

So how is this accomplished?? SIMPLIFY!? That is the word you see on a large wooden sign hung in the home? of Tim Ferris, author of the New York Times best-seller, Tools of Titans.? In the book, Ferris shares some of the simple questions that changed the course of his life.? One was, “What if I could only subtract to solve problems?”? He elaborates that when advising startups, he’d direct the attention away from thinking about what else they should do and redirect towards the question, “What should we simplify?”? Because that process proved so successful in the startup world, he applied it to every aspect of his own life, hence the sign in his home.?? ?

Sometimes it's?difficult to subtract.? With this in mind, three other strategies that can help us take things off our plate include:

1. Prioritizing Tasks:? Identify the most important tasks and focus on those first.? By prioritizing, we can often realize that some tasks are less crucial and can be postponed till later.
2. Delegation:? Share the load. When we delegate tasks to others, whether it's at work or in our personal life, we can?lighten the?load. Delegating also sends a strong message to those you share the load with.? It says, “I have faith in you.”? Remember, you don't have to do everything yourself.
3. Learn to Say No:? It's okay to decline new commitments, especially if we are? already stretched thin.? Saying no is a powerful way to protect our time and energy for the things that truly matter.??

Taking it off your plate can be challenging, especially at this time of year.??But in the long run, the lighter load?will create better outcomes.? Perhaps it’s best to remember that it's not about doing more; it's about doing what matters most.

Embrace the Challenge