As we enter a hybrid world defined by uncertainty and constant change, many of the boundaries we used to rely on have shifted – and in some cases disappeared completely.

We’re facing new challenges, but we also have an opportunity to set new boundaries and build new habits that help us thrive. And that includes leaving behind the pre-pandemic ways of living and working that weren’t serving us.

Before we can set boundaries, we have to set priorities. And the challenges of the past two years have forced us to evaluate what really matters. We’ve discovered that certain parts of life were not as essential as we thought. Just as importantly, we’ve rediscovered certain essential parts we had forgotten.

It’s a kind of Marie Kondo exercise for our whole life, stripping away what is not needed and moving to our more essential nature. As Pope Francis said early in the pandemic, “it is a time to choose what matters and what passes away, a time to separate what is necessary from what is not”. When we’re mindful about this separation, we can begin to set boundaries and take small steps that improve our wellbeing, relationships and more.

Here are three Microsteps – small, science-backed actions – to help you set meaningful priorities. Which will you try?

Each morning, write down your priorities for the day.

Deciding what’s important and what’s not is key to reducing stress and improving productivity.

Let go of something today that you no longer need.

Think about something that is draining your energy without benefitting you or anyone you love: resentments, negative self-talk, a project you know you are not really going to complete – anything. And then let it go.

Before you go to sleep, take 60 seconds to write a list of three things you need to do tomorrow.

Research shows that writing down your key priorities can help you fall asleep faster than reflecting on completed activities or things that already happened. Refer back to your list in the morning and dive in!

See more Thrive strategies for setting priorities here

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Any personal information you provide via this website will be collected by Monash University and Thrive Global for the purposes of delivering the Thrive program to you and to send you marketing communications, if you choose to receive them.

To see how Monash handles your personal information please refer to our Data Protection and Privacy Procedure and Visitors and Enquirers Data Protection and Privacy Collection Statement or contact dataprotectionofficer@monash.edu
To see how Thrive Global handles your personal information please see thriveglobal.com/privacy/.