Posted on Wednesday, 26th August 2009 by Catherine
Somehow Wednesday snuck up on me this week. I have been thinking about simplifying a lot lately. I do my best “thinking” while I run which at times does not translate well to the computer. I am 8 weeks from running my second marathon so I have lots of time to think on my long runs! This is a blessing and a curse.
For one thing I find myself making a mental “to-do” list and often it does not ever make it to the master “to-do” list. Some of you may have long given up on the concept of a to-do list and if so keep reading as this idea may be just what you need!
As you know, making a more simple life for yourself will take time, effort and most likely will be overwhelming at times. We have talked a bit about the small list and also about making time for you. Last week I suggested you take a look at your commitments and eliminate the one(s) that you don’t enjoy or that are stressful to you in an effort to help simplify.
Today I just want to remind myself (and you) that one of the keys to simple living is to take “it” aka life one thing at a time.
I for one am terrible about this. I want it ALL and I want in NOW…this makes for complicated days. I have to ground myself once in awhile and realize that I won’t always have a clean house, laundry put away, clean kids, blog up to date, e-mails returned, a home cooked meal on the table every night, spend enough one on one time with each child, car maintenance done…and on and on. I am sure you can relate. There is always something else to be done.
In order to better manage the ongoing to-do list I have started to make another form of the “small list” in a literal sense. I take a sticky note each morning and write on it what I want to accomplish that day.
Usually only 4 – 5 items so as to not overwhelm myself with items to accomplish and so I can focus on things that are more important than my to-do list. You can see above this notepad takes this concept to its most basic form. One thing each day…when you run out of paper you will have done 400 things. A great accomplishment if you ask me!
Consider leaving that long master to-do list for something simpler. Watch your mentality go from feeling overwhelmed by the endless to-do list to satisfied with what you have done each day.
September 18th, 2009 at 7:57 am
[...] that you don’t like or that don’t bring something positive to your life. The small post it note “to-do” list to help you feel more accomplished and then last week the de-clutter video courtesy of Janet [...]
December 18th, 2009 at 11:09 pm
[...] that you don’t like or that don’t bring something positive to your life. The small post it note “to-do” list to help you feel more accomplished and then last week the de-clutter video courtesy of Janet [...]