List of priorities
Lately I’ve got a lot on my head and I made a decision to put even more with an idea to write on Instagram and starting this blog. I do it, because I know myself and actually I tend to finish more things when I have a loads of things to do. In this state there’s no really place for unplanned action, that’s why prioritisation of tasks is very important and I feel like I am better and better at this.
Around 2 months ago, when my idea of creating this blog has clarified and I started creating more and more content, I made a list of priorities which I follow and that helped me moving a lot in the right direction. I have been going to a gym for more than a quarter regularly now, 4–6 times a week. This was very important aspect of my life for past quarter, but my priorities has changed and I had to put the gym at the end of the list this time. It’s still on my priority list, that’s why I had 2 week off my gym, but I am still going to go there at least 3 days a week now.
The more I am aware of how important prioritisation really is, the less emotional I feel about changing the list. This is not the first time I gave up something to achieve my goal and I think that when you want to achieve something you just have to be ready to give up things you like.
When I started learning how to code, I was a music producer for around 5 years. I had even produced a track which has over 700 000 views on youtube. I thought it may be my big “breakthrough” and I could maybe one day I became famous producer. I was wrong and until I decided to become a software developer I realised that my music producer dreams wasn’t backed by my actions at all. I was just having fun producing music and this had nothing with hard work which has to be put, to succeed at it.
As I realised that I need to really work hard smartly to become a software developer, I really had no much more love for trying to “get it” as a music producer. That’s why I gave up producing music in order to learn programming and sold all my producing equipment. Almost 1.5 years after I dropped doing it, my music is still available online and actually I sold a few beats a few weeks ago, but I have no regret of doing it.
When I started learning how to code, I gave up going to a gym too. I was attending it quite regularly 2–3 times a week then, but I didn’t have a great plan and I wasted a lot of time there. I wanted to become a software developer so bad that I’ve finally gave up going to a gym too.
This one might be obvious, but I also gave up all my leisure time — watching movies, TV series, playing games, etc. I am a huge TV series fan and I have been watching those a lot, I’ve been also playing online games from time to time. I had to give it all up.
I have no regrets of doing giving up any of those things, because I am now happier than ever. I work remotely from home and I even find time for going to a gym, even it’s on the bottom on my priority list. I think I may have some time for producing some music, just for fun in the future, without all the pressure I put on myself earlier.
If you really want to change your life, I encourage you to make a honest priority list and try to stick to it, don’t hold to things that may slow down your learning process. It’s worth it.
Originally published at selfmadedeveloper.com on August 2, 2018.
