GYST: To Know Is To Learn

Ever since I declared that I needed to get my sh*t together, I have been trying to wrap my mind around what that means to me exactly. Now I've set my intention, I have to figure out all the pesky details, because as much as I love it as a life motto "Be like Beyoncé" is just not specific enough. 

Truth is, I haven't got a clue what it means to me to have my sh*t together. Well, I do in a way since otherwise I wouldn't feel the need to "get it together" in the first place, but at the same time, it is a very vague notion in my mind, and as we all know, when it comes to sorting out your life, vague is bad. I can't achieve something if a) I don't know what it is that I am aiming towards and b) I don't know the steps that are needed in order for me to get there. 

I do know however, that like with most things in life, there isn't one, all-encompassing answer. Not only do we all have differing ideas as to what a person who has their sh*t together looks like, there's the the fact that there are different areas in our own individual life that need to be addressed. For example, I would say that I have got my sh*t together when it comes to sleeping, and I don't mean the number of hours I spend in bed, but rather the quality. Thanks to the Sleep Cycle Alarm Clock, I can track my sleep, and make changes to ensure that the average 6-7 hours I spend in bed are the best (plus it wakes you up in your lightest sleep phase before the alarm goes off so you don't have a shock awakening in the middle of a deep juicy dream - I highly recommend!). 

It's a shame that I have yet to reach that level of quality in other areas of my life. 

The thing is, I didn't know about the Sleep Cycle Alarm Clock until Tasha Green mentioned it in one of her favourites videos; I learned about it, figured out how to use it, and then used that to improve an area of my life that at the time didn't realise was really important for my overall health. I'm not entirely sure what other specific areas that I need to improve or how or where to start so I'm going to start by learning. The only way to know something you didn't know before is to learn about it, and thankfully for me, there are countless books, blogs, videos and other resources available authored by people who might provide me with ideas. 

So that's what I'm going to: I'm going to hit Google and search for books that might seem helpful, discover blogs on various topics that seem applicable to me, find videos by people who are going or have gone through similar things. I'm going to do as much research as I can so that I am armed and prepared to make the necessary changes. 

You know what they say: to get one's sh*t together, one must first know what that sh*t is. 

Do you have any books, blogs, resources that have inspired you to get your life in order? I would love to hear any recommendations!

GET YOUR SH*T TOGETHER

"I need to get my sh*t together" is a recurring thought for me. 

I am amongst the horde of twentysomethings that are paralysed into inaction due to living in a society that tells you that you're still young but that everyone your age and under has already got it figured out; that makes it acceptable to watch binge-watch television series whilst also expecting you to magic out hours of productivity in the same 24 hour day; that tells you that the Mark Zuckerbergs of the world are rare unicorns but then demands to know why you're not like him, or even a fraction like him and his ilk. And when your answer is 'I don't know why I'm not on route to becoming a bajilionnaire by age 30' they have a whole range of products, advice and tips that will lead you there. That is if you're not too busy procrastinating. 

Let's face it, having your sh*t together is an art form. 

And as with all art forms, some people are born with a nature inclination towards it whilst others have to work hard to get there. And in the category of those who have to work hard to get there, there are those who, like me, didn't realise that hard work was involved. I think in the back of my mind I always assumed that when I reached 18, at which most government starts considering you an adult, I'd be handed a manual that had some sort of guideline entitled, maybe 'The basics of being an adult: how to pretend you know stuff because you are old". At age 21, there was still no guideline. As age 26 arrives with increasing rapidity, at which point no one anywhere ever will every again consider me anything but an adult, I realise that if I am going to get my sh*t together, I am going to have to work hard and figure out what it means myself.

What does having your sh*t together even mean? 

The first thought that comes to mind is: Beyoncé. There is a woman who seems to have her sh*t together: someone whose blossomed since her Destiny Child's days, a career that has yet to need a "comeback" which she juggles alongside being a (seemingly) lovely human being, mother and wife, and spawned a saying on a mug that I desperately want to get my hands on: "You have as many hours in the day as Beyoncé". 

craftsbychristii - AvenueBlue

I love this because it can mean so many different things to different people. You might scoff at it because obviously Beyoncé hours and "normal hours" aren't the same thing since normal hours don't include personal assistants, nannies, housekeepers and people to do the mundane things that might distract you from working on your passions. Just like you might point out that no one has their sh*t together - that we're just projecting our own image of "togetherness" onto people who have the qualities we deep down aspire to.

Alternatively, you might see it as a reminder that Beyoncé is also a human being, but ever single day she has used the 24 hours she was given to give her all, and over time this persistent effort her got her to where she is - and keeps her there. I don't think you reach Beyoncé status by only giving a half-hearted attempt. To me that means that you reach Beyoncé status when you give your personal all - only you can measure how much you're giving. I think that once you have your sh*t together, you stop looking at Beyoncé in awe and wpnder, as a motivational person to aspire to - when you have your sh*t together, you raise that mug up high in salute because you know that feel: your 24 hours are pretty much as you want them to be. 

So I am going to get my sh*t together. I might also buy a mug or a motivational print, but mainly I am going to share with you my thoughts, tips, and advice as I force myself to bracing the cold reality of life: no one can give me the life I dream of except me. The only way that one day I am going to wake up and think "I have my sh*t together" is that I work at it, and work hard. 

I'm never going to be Beyoncé, but nothing, except me, stops me from being as good as.

What do you think? What does having your sh*t together mean to you?