We wake up every morning and begin with thousands of thoughts running around in our heads of what needs to get accomplished that day, that week, or even that month. On a personal note my life has become so consumed by to do's that I felt as though I was just living off lists with my sanity linked to the pen that crossed off the tasks. I have blogged in the past about life balance and the importance of creating lists but recently the idea that lists were beginning to consume me seemed a little pathetic. I decided to do a small experiment. For one week I did not write a single list. I didn't take a moment at my desk each day to whip out an over sized post it and start listing away. I just went day by day. At first I felt like something was wrong. It didn't feel right to me that I didn't have something to reference whatever it was I needed to accomplish. Surprisingly not the end of the world! I just did what I thought needed to get done. By day three I actually enjoyed not having to list everything on a daily basis that my week will consist of and went with the flow of things. Going with the flow. I hear it all the time but never really understood it, and now I do. In the end life balance, focus and enjoying the moment leaves you feeling less stressed and overwhelmed. Treat your to do list as a small way to keep yourself in check, rather than living by them.
My 5 revelations about lists are below-
- Your memory is sharper than you think
- Create lists as you need them but don't live by them.
- Going with the flow is tied to living in the moment, and is so much more important than living off of to dos.
- Creating a list once at the beginning of your week which highlights what needs to get accomplished gives you the room to go with the flow and not be thrown off course.
- Your everyday to do lists will never cease to exist, not for now anyway, so taking things day by day is the best way to stay on track.
Staying organized in your home will allow you to feel more at ease about what needs to get done. For example have your monthly bills in one spot, your doctor's appointments or children's appointments in a designated area. Just seeing them everyday is a reminder. What works for me may not work for you, however if you try your best to stay focused your to do list may only be needed twice a week, once a month...or not at all.
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