You Are Your Priority

Written By Dominic Marino

Prioritize Your Priorities: We all have priorities, but our priorities are not always prioritized.

Look at your daily to-do list and see if your health & happiness is a top priority. Every day, your to-do list should have something on it that will improve your well-being & generate joy.

Yes, I know, it’s easier said than done. But if we just change our approach, we can shift our actions from just “getting-stuff-done” to optimizing our lives.

Mind & Body Priority: What will you do, today, to improve your brain & your body?

Daily to-do list items that will optimize your brain & body are be related to nutrition, exercise & relaxation.

Once these three items are on your daily to-do list, revisit them often, making tweaks & changes, to improve the foods that you eat, the way you move & the way you instill calmness into your every day.

Simple ways to start:

  • Add colorful fruit & vegetables to every meal

  • Dance to a favorite song

  • Perform ‘Animal Flow’ exercises

  • Practice Mindfulness/Meditation

  • Play problem-solving games

Spirit Priority: What will you do, today, to improve your spirit?

Daily to-do list items that will optimize your spirit are related nature, spiritual practices, finding awe & connecting to something greater than yourself.

Once these four items are on your daily to-do list, revise them often, making tweaks & changes, to broaden your spiritual experiences.

Simple ways to start:

  • Walk in the park

  • Care for a potted plant

  • Pray

  • Practice Gratitude

  • Count Life’s Blessings

  • Touch tree trunk & look up at its branches

Social Priority: What will you do, today, to improve the health of your social life?

Daily to-do list items that will optimize your social network are related to connecting with family & friends & helping others.

Once these two items are on your daily to-do list, revise them often, making tweaks & changes, to broaden your social connections.

Simple ways to start:

  • Call a family member/friend

  • Volunteer for an organization that aligns to your beliefs

  • Help & support someone who has a problem

  • Make a new friend

  • Take a class that focuses on group learning

Financial Priority: What will you do, today, to improve your financial situation?

Daily to-do items that will optimize your financial health are related to earning, saving, investing & spending.

Once these four items are on your daily to-do list, revise them often, making tweaks & changes, to broaden your financial circumstances.

Simple ways to start:

  • Work overtime hours (if available)

  • Seek advancements / job changes

  • Set & save a small amount of money from each paycheck. No matter how small the amount, the practice of doing so will build the habit and mindset of paying yourself first.

  • Set up automatic deductions (e.g., Tax Deferred Annuities, Health Savings Accounts, 529 College Savings Plan)

  • Read a book related to your financial goals

Fun Priority: What will you do, today to improve your fun?

Daily to-do items that will optimize your enjoyment, happiness & excitement.

Once these four items are on your daily to-do list, revise them often, making tweaks & changes, to broaden your love of life.

Simple ways to start:

  • Dive deep into a current or new hobby

  • Practice a musical instrument

  • Draw for two minutes a day

  • Create something (anything)

  • Play an online game with other people

  • Bake/Cook

  • Join/Start a book club

You Are Your Priority: We need to prioritize ourselves. In doing so, our health & happiness will improve.

Life is more than just “getting-stuff-done”; it’s about living our best life.

Simple ways to start:

  • Start with small tasks

  • Start with short amounts of time

  • Start with activities of interest

  • Start with reading & learning

  • Start by doing something every day

Some of My Current Priorities That I Rotate Through My Daily To-List:

  • Reading a book

  • Exercise (Running, Unicycling, Resistance Training)

  • Sketching for two minutes

  • Meditation

  • Preparing simple whole, plant-based meals

  • Prayer/Gratitude

  • Being in nature

  • Bass guitar practice

  • Photography

  • Journaling

The Priority Is You:

By intentionally choosing how we care for our mind, body, spirit, finances, and joy, we create a life that supports who we are and who we’re becoming.

Your priorities deserve your attention; so, get yourself on your Daily Priority To-Do List.

Dominic Marino
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Moderation May Kill You