This one is hard.

2. Evaluate your commitments.
Look at everything you’ve got going on in your life. Everything, from work to home to civic to kids’ activities to hobbies to side businesses to other projects. Think about which of these really gives you value, which ones you love doing. Which of these are in line with the 4-5 most important things you listed above? Drop those that aren’t in line with those things.

• Work - we have multiple commitments at our jobs. List them all.
o RIA
• 40hrs/wk
• manage child assessments
• ads responsibilities
• figuring out technology to small extent
• correspondence
• share study
• only full time employee btw two studies
o SW
• occasionally fill in at office
• direct bymi
• prepare lessons
• set up classes and schedule
• “obligatory” attendance at screenings, meetings, etc
• manage students
• 15 hrs/wk but non-structured
• Side work - some of us free-lance, or do odd jobs to take in money. More commitments.
o Videography
• renting equipment from sw
• set up and shooting
• editing
• dvd production
• trying to get job
• Family - we may play a role as husband, wife, father, mother, son, daughter. These roles come with many commitments.
o Live-in Girlfriend
o Daughter
o Sister
o Godmother
o Friend
• Civic - we may volunteer for different organizations, or be a board member or officer on a non-profit organization.
o SW
• helping out at various functions
• Hobbies - perhaps you are a runner or a cyclist, or you build models, or are part of a secret underground comic book organization. These come with - surprise! - commitments.
o making videos
• finish clothing doc
• begin social media doc, sex doc
o scrapbooking
o sewing
o making stuff
o design
• Home - aside from regular family stuff, there’s the stuff you have to do at home.
o chores
o fixing stuff
o laundry
o making dinners
o running errands
• Online - we may be a regular on a forum or mailing list or Google group. These are online communities that come with commitments too.
o myspace
o facebook
o craftster.org
o digs magazine
o email
o online banking / bills
• Car
o cleaning
o repairs
• Social
o hanging out with friends
o bars
o dinners
• School
o looking for grad programs
o writing personal statement
o asking for letters of recommendation
• Self preservation
o girlie baths complete with lotion and crap
o occasional activity mostly guilt from lack of activity


Now take a close look at each thing on the list, and consider: How does this give my life value? How important is it to me? Is it in line with my life priorities and values? How would it affect my life if I dropped out? Does this further my life goals? Edit mercilessly, keeping only those that really mean something to you. Each time you cut a commitment, it may give you a feeling of guilt, because others want you to keep that commitment.

I don't think that is everything that I spend my time doing but I cannot think of anything else. I have no idea what to cut because it all feels so important. I think I will start with:

*Home: I will assign myself one hour a day to clean tops. Anything outside of that hour is off limits. All straightening up. organization or anything else is limited to one hour a day. I will be okay with just getting one task done at a time.

There doesn't seem to be much in there that I fully enjoy and look forward to. As for the guiding principles from last time, I have been think about them over the past week and I feel that they are apt.

And today marks the beginning of simplifying life.

Step 1: Make a list of your top 4 - 5 important things.
What’s most important to you? What do you value most? What 4-5 things do you most want to do in your life? Simplifying starts with these priorities, as you are trying to make room in your life so you have more time for these things.

1) Doing work I enjoy
2) Spending time with those I love
3) Learning something everyday
4) Making things
5) Accepting myself

{not listed in order of importance}

1) Live simply
2) Love myself
3) Love others
4) Do something meaningful
5) Learn things that interest me