Maybe you need a KPI for that?
You know that special kind of morning, where your eyes are still stubbornly shut, but your brain is already running a marathon fueled by post-margarita anxiety? (Thanks, perimenopause, you're the real MVP). My heart was straight up racing, cycling through every single thing on my invisible to-do list before I even had my first sip of coffee.
And then a glorious, slightly-sweaty moment of clarity hit me like a ton of bricks: I need to get back to the basics. Am I even drinking water? Have I had a real meal that wasn't just my kid's leftover crusts? When's the last time I actually went for a run instead of just thinking about it?
Operating Without a Map No More
In the business world, we're all about tracking. KPIs, dashboards, conversion rates—if it moves, we're measuring it. I can tell you what percentage our revenue is up or down every single day. We've got our finger on the pulse of every lead and every dollar.
But then there's life. And apparently, in life, we're just out here flying by the seat of our pants with our calendars and then wondering why we feel like a deflated balloon by Wednesday. My "toddler checklists" are still crushing it for the kids, but for adults? Yeah, that's a whole different beast. (And no, I don't actually use one myself, which is probably why I needed this realization.)
So, I started asking: What are my actual KPIs? Not the corporate jargon, but the metrics that, if they're trending in the right direction, mean my entire world isn't about to combust. The things that signal, "Okay, you're not just existing, you're actually living."
Here's what I'm tracking right now, mostly mentally, occasionally on a rogue sticky note that gets immediately lost:
Did everyone eat a real vegetable today? Bonus points if it didn't involve a gallon of ranch. Because hydration and nutrition are like, the bedrock of human existence.
How many tabs are open in my brain? Under 10? We're thriving. Over 25? Send help, snacks, and maybe a small, potent drink. My brain is a browser, and it's constantly crashing.
Did I sweat on purpose this week? Walking counts. Chasing after a rogue sock in the dryer does not. We're aiming for intentional movement here, not just reactive chaos.
Have I stepped outside without my phone? Okay, real talk: I'm not the only one whose phone is practically glued to their hand, right? But grabbing my coffee and heading to the porch without scrolling, or taking an evening walk with my husband without checking notifications, isn't just a "nice-to-have." In this chaotic world, those phone-free moments are essential.
Did I pause long enough to feel something before moving on to the next thing? A deep sigh of relief. A genuine belly laugh. Even a good cry in the car. That, my friends, is the good stuff. That's how you know you're not just a robot on autopilot.
Your Real-Life Dashboard
You don't need a fancy data analytics dashboard. You don't need to overcomplicate it. But choosing 2-3 Key Performance Indicators for your real life might just be the grounding system your week (and your sanity) desperately needs. It's about letting it be easy on the home front, even for ourselves.
So, what's your "real life KPI?" The one metric that truly helps you know you're okay? Share yours in the comments below!
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