September has arrived, and I’m still trying to figure out my flow. Lately, I’ve been reflecting a lot on Priorities—what they mean, how people set them, and why I often struggle to stick to mine.
At first, I thought blogging would be one of my top priorities, but I keep pushing it forward or running out of time. Household chores take up so much space in the day, and even when I make schedules, I don’t always follow them.
Life With Family Right Now
In mid-August, my in-laws arrived. For my baby, this has been such a blessing—he’s 8 months old now, crawling non-stop, and soaking in new words, expressions, and love from his grandparents. It’s wonderful that they care for him full-time, but when family is around, it becomes harder to set boundaries and stick to personal priorities.
Still, I wanted to understand priorities better, so I looked it up. Here’s what I found:
“Priorities are the things you decide are most important in your life, work, or a specific moment. They act as a compass, helping you choose where to spend your time, energy, and attention.”
At the life level, priorities might include:
- Health
- Family
- Career
- Learning
- Financial stability
- Creativity
- Relationships
- Spirituality
At the daily level, priorities are the smaller tasks that align with those bigger goals.
How Do People Set Priorities?
There are different approaches, but some of the most common are:
🔹 Value-Based
People reflect on their core values (e.g., honesty, family, growth) and align priorities with them.
Example: Someone who values family might prioritize leaving work on time for dinner with kids.
🔹 Goal-Based
Priorities come from specific goals.
Example: If the goal is “run a marathon,” then training and eating healthy become daily priorities.
🔹 Urgency vs. Importance (Eisenhower Matrix)
Tasks are sorted into four boxes:
- Urgent + Important → Do it now.
- Important, not urgent → Schedule it.
- Urgent, not important → Delegate or minimize.
- Neither → Eliminate.
🔹 Limited Slots Rule
Some people cap their active priorities (e.g., top 3 in life, top 3 for the day).
“If everything is important, nothing is.”
💡 Quick reflection exercise:
- List everything you think is important right now.
- Ask yourself: If I could only choose three, which would make the biggest difference in my life?
Those are your true priorities.
My September Priorities
Right now, family time is the most important thing. Since my in-laws will be here until December, I’ve decided to set easy, balanced priorities for the next few months.
Step 1: Big Picture — Monthly Priorities
Family & Baby
- Bonding activities with my baby (songs, poems, play).
- Enjoying grandparent support and togetherness.
Personal Wellbeing
- Gentle exercise/back care (10–15 min stretches).
- Drink at least 2L of water daily.
- Keep up a simple skincare + hair care routine.
Learning & Growth
- Focus on my certificate course.
- Read 25 pages a day → finish 1 book this month.
- Listen to 2 podcasts a week (1 life, 1 career).
Creative & Expression
- Write a short story (even just a draft).
- Blog twice a week (Wednesday + Friday/Sunday).
- Post twice a week on Instagram.
Step 2: Daily/Weekly Priority Rhythm
Instead of trying to do everything every day, I’m giving myself a rhythm to follow.
Daily Non-Negotiables:
- Family time with my baby (poems, songs, activities).
- Gentle exercise/stretch (10–15 min).
- Drink water.
- Quick skincare + hair care routine.
- Reading : 20 pgs
Weekly Rhythm:
- Mon/Tue → course.
- Wed → Blog evening + Podcast listening.
- Thu → Certificate course + Instagram planning.
- Fri → Blog evening (if not Sunday) + podcast listening
- Sat → Story writing (small chunk) + Instagram post.
- Sun → Blog or podcast + leisure reading.
✨ That’s my September plan. It’s not perfect, and I know life with a baby and family around is unpredictable. But instead of trying to do everything at once, I’m focusing on balance: family, wellbeing, learning, and creative expression.
This is Post 2 of 100 for my #100DaysToOffload challenge.