Setting priorities and time management

I was first introduced to time management at the beginning of college.  However, because I was a student with special needs in the public school setting having a schedule and routine was instilled in me at a very young age. As a professional in the world of special education, I now understand how much structure and having a routine can impact someone's success. People have commented on how methodical and organized I am. The past couple of years I have realized how and why this came to be. Professionals worked with my parents and I starting at 2 years of age to create healthy habits when it came to balancing and scheduling rest time, therapy time and study/work time.

I feel I was born to be a rehabilitation professional/OT therefore when I entered into adulthood and chose a college degree that many individuals without a disability aren't able to complete due to the level of difficulty I knew it was crunch time.  It was time to enhance all beneficial strategies and supports that were offered to me.  This included tutoring, counseling, progressive muscle relaxation, body mechanics, stress management and time management.  It is interesting to me that all of these are a part of OT and the rehab/recovery process. If individuals push through with a busy life style while avoiding these topics they are going to end up attending OT or different types of rehab during middle to late adulthood anyways.  So I got an early start to think about these things which was actually a blessing and successful jump start on my adult life.

At age 18 I wrote down a daily schedule of when I had class, worked, studied, rested/attempted progressive muscle relaxation.  That was a very difficult time in my life because I had so many challenges and milestones to all at one time.  Since then, I have not always kept a specific schedule that I had written down and looked at.  However, my life style is still very methodical and I have always naturally accommodated myself to take in what life has to offer at a much slower pace than most adults.  I didn't work a side job or party during my undergraduate degree.  I studied.  Rested. And got out to socialize and take trips.  It was a very bizarre equal balance for such a young adult. For my graduate degree I worked as a professional OT part time and lived with my parents. Living with my parents during grad school allowed me to get a wonderful jump start financially and they were also able to help me out by grocery shopping, cooking, etc. We didn't even realize that this was a benefit to me during that time. I have always seen myself as capable of grocery shopping, cooking and cleaning but not having to do it, is a wonderful experience!

It's been a recent idea that I need to take a look back at strategies I was once introduced to in order to live the life I want to it's absolute fullest.   I'm at a time in my life where I am living completely independent.  I do all the chores.  I work to pay all the bills.  Am I an overachiever when it comes to wanting to be organized and having a clean house?  Yes.  Do I feel financially comfortable and ready to hire help?  No, not quite yet.  However this is something to think about.

At this stage in my life I think it is going to be important to set priorities and make goals of what is most important to me.