Time and Sanity

I’m not sure if it’s because I’m getting older or wiser, but I find that more and more of my time these days is spent putting things into perspective and making decisions about what is important to me. I started out this year telling myself that I would only spend time doing things that were ’soul-stirring’ for me. So far I think I’m doing a decent job of that, but I have to stop occasionally and reevaluate where I am.  I know that I’m the kind of person that can get very wrapped up in things. I’m really eager to participate and join new communities and make a difference.  I’m also the kind of person that has had trouble saying ‘no’ to things in the past.

I’m doing better with it though, and starting to make decisions based on how valuable my time is to me, and how much of an impact I think I can have on things I’m doing and.. here’s the big one – how IMPORTANT is this to me in the whole scheme of things.

I read an older post today on 43 Folders and the very last item on the list helped, once again, to bring things into perspective:
Get pickier – You are the sole person in your life who gets to decide where your time and attention can go. Take that responsibility seriously by not wasting time on junk. You know in your heart what’s really important to you — does the current direction of your time and attention reflect that? Is “kid hugging” time where it should be in proportion to “Blackberry checking” time? Be mindful at the highest level about where you focus your energy, and always strive not to squander it on undeserving activities.

And there it is. Perspective.  For me though, it’s not that activities are ‘undeserving’ – not at all, in fact. Most of the things I’m saying “no” to these days are very deserving and are things that I’d probably enjoy doing – *IF* I had unlimited time – but I don’t.

Social media and social networking are powerful amazing things. I thank my lucky stars every single day to be part of such wonderful online communities.  That being said, if I let myself get completely wrapped up in every single community, every single event, every single committee, every single meeting.. I have no time for me.  I need time for me. I’m better for everything else, when I take care of “me” first.

Ning

Yay Ning. I’m supposed to love Ning, right? I have to say that I belong to several Ning groups and so far, I’m just not ‘getting’ it. Hopefully some of you can help me shed some light onto why this is something I should become really passionate about and invested in.

Every time I get an invite to join a Ning group a little shudder of excitement comes over me. I love being part of online communities and being invited to join one always makes me happy.  Then when I sign in, I am asked, every time mind you,  to create a profile page. Every time. I’m uploading the same photo, entering the same profile info.. every time. Is this something I can just save somewhere because wow is that a pain. Anyone?

I’m also just not sure what value Ning will add for me. Right now it just seems like one more place to say the same things I’m saying elsewhere. I don’t want to make another blog, I don’t want to make another profile and I don’t want to have one more thing I have to check-up on, or keep up with. Again, if there’s something I’m missing with Ning, let me know.. because right now.. I’m not sure I “get” it.

I think maybe if you were someone who didn’t have your own blog (blogs?) or domain, or twitter feed, or friendfeed, or jaiku, or plurk account, or Facebook page, or Flickr account, etc… then maybe Ning would be  a neat place to put all those things, but as it is.. well, I’m just not sure.

I completely understand the value of networks and online communities. I definitely also think that Ning has some great features and would be a fantastic spot to have your own ’social network’ if you didn’t already BELONG to a bunch of different social networks.  I am sure there’s some benefit to Ning that I just don’t know, or that I don’t understand at this point, but from my own experience so far.. I’m not getting a ton of value from it.  Value is a big deal to me these days. I’m finding more and more that the most valuable thing I own is my time and unless a new tool can either save me time or make it worth my time then I’m likely to not fall in love with it.