It's about time!

photo courtesty of Flickr's Creative Commons and ali edwards

Why do I have a love-hate relationship with calendars and day-planners? Danielle La Porte offers an answer on Leo Baubata's zenhabits. What I really want is to feel calm and connected—with family, friends, work, self, and the world out there.

She tells me to identify core areas that are important to me in life, so my calendar respects them. I sorted through Oprah's Best Life categories and checked for ideas in Julie Morgenstern's Time Management from the Inside Out. Finally, I sat down to a cup of java with Jen James, my friend and blogging partner.

An hour [and lots of doodling and chatting] later, we landed on our Top Six:

• Work

• Relationships

• Wellness

• Surroundings

• Finances & Possessions

• Spirituality

Honestly, what really bogs me down is the truth a calendar tells. My right-brain self gets emotional hives just thinking about boxes, check lists and “shoulds.” My neck feels tense as I consider all the space occupied by the word “Work.” But, Danielle suggests I de-stress by finding a way to be as balanced as I can be—while I'm at work. . . as well as in the other areas of life. Good point. I want to experience simplicity, connectedness, freedom, and creativity wherever I am. Interesting.

I might even be able to look at a calendar that lets me do that. I'll mess around with that tomorrow.

What are your Top Six? Leave us a comment. . . and your favorite links.