The Quit List

Feeling overwhelmed? Life feel somewhat out of control? Feel that no matter what you are doing you simply can't keep up? 
The other day I was listening to a podcast and the person being interviewed mentioned that each year they had a "quit list" of all the things they were going to quit that weren't really enjoyable or adding value to their life. This is genius I thought.  As an overcommitted, perfectionist, workaholic this sounded like an amazing idea. So I started my own quit list. What in the world does this have to do with yoga you ask? Well everything. What is yoga? Yoga is the "yoking" of the mind and body. You see the body can do nothing without the mind. The practice of asana or postures is one limb of eight that is involved in changing patterns, or habits. In the yoga world often known as "samskaras" or mental and emotional patterns or one might even say neural pathways. 

Our subconscious mind is controlling much of our life, meaning we do many things without really thinking it through. In order to change this some tools are to  visualize the process or outcome,  focus on whats important,  meditate, we practice discipline, all of this is yoga. For more info look into the eight limbs of yoga. 

Here is my quit list and it was not as easy as one might think. I am also including my "what to focus on list"  when I quit the other craziness.

Courtney's Q​uit List

1. Quit focusing on creating a side hustle (website, blog, vlog, more ebooks)  when we have three jobs that are bringing in plenty of money. When and if I do these it will be simply for fun. I instead will focus on the three business we run that are making money, increase those profits by managing the books, marketing, and calendar. Optimize what is working and running. 

2. Quit worrying about finishing another book or having a goal for a book until I retire and I'll revisit. I have three books in the works. One is in editing so I will finish it and get it published. Then the other two if I have the free time I may upload those as an ebook but it will no longer be a priority. Only after everything else is done will I focus on this, if I want to.

3. Quit saying "yes" to projects that wear me out, take my time and don't produce income. I have gotten a lot of media attention this year and it has not brought me one bit of money except book sales. At $3 average on a book (about $700 a year) that is less than a week of work.  I will instead focus on things that make me feel good about sharing or helping others. If it helps someone or can possibly result in more money I "may" do it. 

4. Quit trying to learn new ways to sell stuff. Use what I have, Facebook Market place, Instagram, Craigslist and good old fashioned yard sale type stuff. Let go of making money online with anything else than what I am already doing. Let go of the darn "shoulds"! 

Before taking on anything else these things should be optimized in my life. 
WHATS IMPORTANT LIST

1. Doing my best at my current job. Showing up, doing a good job that is most important, everything else is not necessary. I have already proven myself. 

2. Manage the income we have better. Follow a budget, handle the taxes, handle the investments and tax deferred retirement accounts and health savings, optimize what is coming in by saving, cutting spending, and investing wisely. 

3. Manage the household. Take time to organize our life in regards to food, finances, organization of space, cleanliness, maintaining order and operations, autos and animals. 

4. Manage my own self care. Eating healthy, exercise, being in nature, time off, reading, watching movies, travel, flea markets, yoga and meditations and generally having down time. 

5. Finish what I have committed to and look at this list and make sure these things are going well and I have time for them before taking on anything new. 


There you have it. Basically it's focusing on "What's important and letting go of everything that is not". I need structure to do this. I need list to bring me back to ground. As a creative if I don't have structure I get willy nilly in my ideas and before long my day dreams are taking on a new reality that has created a ton of self imposed work. This keeps me from really enjoying life. 

What are you going to quit to focus on what is important? Share with me if you like. 

Love,
​C