I talk a lot about how to finish big projects, but let’s be honest: sometimes the idea of what we could do between now and September’s end feels like too much.
So what if we zoom in?
What if we just focus on today?
When your inbox is overflowing and the day is one mini-crisis after another, it’s easy to put off what you said was most important.
Instead, you check things off your list like: gym workout, grocery run, laundry, and dinner prep.
Somehow, the thing that matters most gets pushed aside.
Again.
And soon, just thinking about it feels heavy.
Relax. We are all in the same boat. (Not literally; it's crowded enough in our sailboat already!)
Life right now moves at the speed of light, and the pressure to make the most of it can be paralyzing.
I’m not here to preach. There’s no “you got this!” or “change your mindset!” pep talks today.
I just want you to feel good about your day when your head hits the pillow tonight.
1. Outsource something.
What chore do you hate most?
Is it grocery shopping? Mowing the lawn? House cleaning?
Back when we lived on land, I outsourced almost everything. We worked long hours, so I bought back my time.
I hired out lawn care and house cleaning so I could do what I enjoyed, like cooking and planting flowers in my garden.
Now, life aboard our boat in rural Guatemala means something different, but I still get help.
Gabby picks up laundry on Tuesdays.
Magye brings fresh-baked sourdough on Saturdays.
Jackie delivers hard-to-find items from Guatemala City.
Sure, we can’t always afford to offload everything, but maybe there is one thing you can hand off.
Start there.
2. Unsubscribe IRL.
Your analog life needs an upgrade.
I clear out unwanted messages from my inbox with great abandon. You can do the same. (Just not this email, okay?)
It costs nothing and frees up time and mental capacity.
Apply this philosophy to real life...
Back in Texas, I outfitted our boat with a new enclosure.
For those of you unfamiliar with the BOAT acronym (break out another thousand), sailboat maintenance is expensive. We DIY everything possible; my husband and I are both quite handy.
Word soon spread about my sewing skills. I was doing projects for everyone. Friends. Then, friends of friends.
Great, right?
No...I cannot stress enough how much I hated sewing for other people. Being on the clock sucked all the fun out of it. But I kept doing it.
Then a boat neighbor said, “You must love sewing.”
My deadpan answer: “No!”
He looked incredulous. “Then stop doing it!”
Simple. Obvious. And incredibly freeing.
We all need a moment like that, where a friend reminds us we don’t have to keep doing something that’s draining us.
It might be a monthly networking group, a volunteer role, or a lingering “yes” you said out of guilt.
If it no longer fits your life or your goals?
Tap out. Walk away.
Unsubscribe in real life.
3. Just do one thing.
After we gain a bit of time freedom using the first two strategies, the list is still long, right?
Let’s choose one thing that makes today matter.
Even if you have to skip the gym and order takeout, what’s one thing that you can do today that moves you forward?
Keep the to-do list, but circle one thing: the non-negotiable.
Pick the thing that, if nothing else gets done, still makes you feel proud.
Which one? That’s your personal power. You get to choose what matters most.
Until next week,
Tanya
P.S. What could you change to get more freedom in your life? I'd love to hear from you. Just hit reply.