While many people create New Year’s resolutions, some folks create lists of goals or yearly objectives, others kind of take things as they come, there are also those that simply care not and move in whatever direction events happen to take them. Unsurprisingly, I fit none of these modes. I want to live comfortably and be happier with what I have than with what I don’t have yet. Most of the previously mentioned modes is focused on an outcome or an end point. I prefer to focus on the letters, spaces, and meaning of a sentence rather than on the period at the end of it.
This was the impetus for my more process-oriented list of priorities. I basically just created a set of guidelines of how I wanted to prioritize my time and efforts. They are in priority order (it seemed silly for me to create a list of priorities in random order, though that may work for some). Even though I expect these to evolve and change over time, I tried to corral them in what seemed like a a reasonable time frame (2010). I created these guidelines in early February and have found them to be quite useful. As I look at scheduling my week or day and have more opportunities (things to do) than the time to do them, I check the opportunity list against my priorities.
Let’s say I’m deciding whether to do watch a movie or go for a bike ride. I’ll consider whether either opportunity matches a priority. Movie – no. Bike ride – yes. I’ll probably go with the bike ride assuming the weather is tolerable. When both match a priority, does one match multiple priorities? Can I adjust the opportunity to address additional priorities? Has a priority not been attended to in a while?
It also seems logical that a lot, if not most, of my Daily Positives originate from my priorities. Seems to me like they are and that speaks of appropriate alignment. Another positive right there! 😉
Just some practical tips that work for me.
Did the 10K run at the Shamrock Shuffle today. My first official 10K. I’d registered for a couple in the past and for various reasons had never been able to do one. Based on some of my treadmill workouts through the OS, I was shooting for a sub 60 min event. That’s about a 9:30 pace which is “fast” for me. Ended up with a 1:01:23 (9:53 pace which was really a 9:44 pace because it was 6.3 miles, not 6.2). While the time wasn’t as fast as I’d hoped, I was pleased with the overall event. I tried to run consistently, relaxed, and strong. Felt like I did all 3.
It’s a challenging course with a serious hill in each direction on the out and back course. I was having a hard time getting a consistent pace on the Garmin. Clearly part of that was me, but on the flat sections it was swinging nearly 2 minutes/mile pace which is kind of ridiculous. I ran the second half slightly faster than the first (negative split). That was important for me because mentally I really had to push especially through that last hill in mile 6. The mental st4rength and discipline, I believe, is my biggest potential opportunity for improvement this season.
Wore the VFF’s and they felt really good. Had a few folks ask me about them. Calves were a bit tight after wards and a little sore the next morning. That was my longest outdoor run in them (by 3 miles). Still very happy with them.
Saw Mary Z on the course and chatted briefly. Roy was volunteering at the end and talked to him and Jim Carlson for a bit. Also ran into Bobby Z & Mary on the way back to the car. They were just finishing up with a wedding at the Capitol.
