Life can be overwhelming sometimes. There are so many things that need to be done every day, and we all have the dreaded "to do" list whether it be in the back of our heads or written down, even stored in a cell phone. I have made 2 decisions:
1. The secret of a "to do" list is not to try and finish it all, but to make a shorter list
2. I feel better with a "done it" list instead
The first is fairly self-explanatory. Just don't put so many things on your list. Be it for today, or this week, or this month, find things that can be moved, delegated, or removed completely. You need to feed the cat? Ask a child to do it. Make bread? If you're at the store already one bought loaf probably won't hurt. Laundry? There will be more tomorrow anyway, so you can always add it together.
The second is my new philosophy on life as well. Instead of looking at all of the things I wanted to do but didn't, I look at all the things I did. Sure, I didn't clean out the fridge, but I did read to my daughter for an hour, vacuum, do the dishes, start the laundry, and put gas in the car. When you sit down at the end of the day and remember all the things you did, you find out that so many things never make it to your list, or just pop up during the day, that you can never possibly finish a to do list, but you sure do a lot anyway! It creates a feeling of success, of accomplishment.
I have recently applied the same philosophy to my life. I look at what I HAVE done instead of what I never will do. I will never be a teacher, but I did get a degree. I may never live in Europe, but I did travel there. I haven't published a book, but I have written down my ideas. I don't have a high paid career, but I have a loving daughter who comes iwth more rewards than any job could have. And I still have time left. Life isn't over, I'm not even in the middle yet! I've done a lot with what years I've had, and I plan on doing more with what is left, but I sure won't be checking off my to do in life list, I'll be writing my "you bet I did that!' lsit instead.
1. The secret of a "to do" list is not to try and finish it all, but to make a shorter list
2. I feel better with a "done it" list instead
The first is fairly self-explanatory. Just don't put so many things on your list. Be it for today, or this week, or this month, find things that can be moved, delegated, or removed completely. You need to feed the cat? Ask a child to do it. Make bread? If you're at the store already one bought loaf probably won't hurt. Laundry? There will be more tomorrow anyway, so you can always add it together.
The second is my new philosophy on life as well. Instead of looking at all of the things I wanted to do but didn't, I look at all the things I did. Sure, I didn't clean out the fridge, but I did read to my daughter for an hour, vacuum, do the dishes, start the laundry, and put gas in the car. When you sit down at the end of the day and remember all the things you did, you find out that so many things never make it to your list, or just pop up during the day, that you can never possibly finish a to do list, but you sure do a lot anyway! It creates a feeling of success, of accomplishment.
I have recently applied the same philosophy to my life. I look at what I HAVE done instead of what I never will do. I will never be a teacher, but I did get a degree. I may never live in Europe, but I did travel there. I haven't published a book, but I have written down my ideas. I don't have a high paid career, but I have a loving daughter who comes iwth more rewards than any job could have. And I still have time left. Life isn't over, I'm not even in the middle yet! I've done a lot with what years I've had, and I plan on doing more with what is left, but I sure won't be checking off my to do in life list, I'll be writing my "you bet I did that!' lsit instead.