I’ve been having a crisis of conscious lately re: what matters the most to me in life.

This seems to have been prompted by the overwhelm of the holiday season, and the stark realization that I don’t always have time for every single little thing.

It all stems back to an internal conversation about personal core values. In other words, what are the non-negotiables in our lives that we hold closest and prioritize above all else?

I’ve struggled lately with holding space for some of mine: my faith, my family, eating healthy, movement, discipline, maintaining a neat home, working hard, and honoring my creative pursuits. For most of the year, I am able to keep each of these as a focal point in my day-to-day life (though sometimes I’m amazed at my ability to do so.) Lately, though, I’ve had to compromise some of my core values, like maintaining a neat home and honoring my creative pursuits, to make room for things like spending more time with family and going to the gym whenever I have the time to do so.

At the end of each day, when my house feels super disorganized and I haven’t sat down to write anything, I feel a pang of dissatisfaction within my spirit that chides me for “not being able to do it all.” Indeed, our inner critics are always the harshest ones, and mine is no exception.

My instincts in response to this internal struggle are usually to double down and lock in. “Make no excuses” I normally tell myself.” The older I’m getting, though, the more time is fleeting, and I need to take inventory of what really matters in the thick of it all-especially during the most special time of the year.

In spite of myself, I ask the same question I ask others who are faced with similar challenges: “If something’s got to give, what’s the lowest-impact thing you can give up just for now to make room for things that will make you most happy today?” I know that no matter what the rhythm and flow of each day brings, there will be certain things that will bring me the most peace and fulfillment over others.

For example, if I have the chance to spend time with my family, go for a walk, and write something, then what does it matter if my house is a little disorganized? The clean laundry and the dishes in the sink aren’t going anywhere. Sure, do I really want them to be done? Yes, but not at the expense of feeling less fulfilled if I had made time to clean up instead of spending that time on something else.

It’s all about making little deals with yourself when the days are crazy and the weeks are short. What’s fortunate for most of us is that every season of life is temporary and apt to change in the blink of an eye. Things won’t always be like this forever-and that’s okay. Before I know it, my regimented routine of keeping up my home, training, lifting and writing most days of the week, fulfilling every commitment before it’s due, and staying on top of every other little detail will be back.

I saw a quote in a mindfulness publication many moons ago while staying at a retreat center in the Pocono’s. It read something like, “We are all going to die someday soon, so let’s just live right now.” This sticks with me, especially during times like these. The minutiae of every day life doesn’t seem worth stressing over, especially if it means we miss out on experiences that carry more value over time than the satisfaction of an immaculate kitchen sink (which, of course, will only be filled with dirty dishes again in a few hours.)

When it comes to what matters most to me during the holiday season-I take it day by day. That’s the beauty of life: no one day is the same, moments are precious and fleeting, and everything changes. There will always be space for creating new rhythms and flows in the aberrant conga line of life.

So let’s just live right now.