“Sometimes our stop-doing list needs to be bigger than our to-do list.” ~Patti Digh
Why put off until tomorrow what we can do today? To save our sanity that’s why! Sometimes I get this feeling, and I don’t know how to describe it, but my brain is going a billion miles per hour but I’m not getting a darn thing accomplished — other than thinking about all of the things I want to get accomplished today. Then I get even more frustrated because I’m not getting nearly enough done to be able to wipe my entire “to do” list for that particular day. Then the whole cycle starts over, franticly trying to be productive and becoming frustrated because I’m not getting everything I’ve decided to get done accomplished. It drives me crazy! (And you do know that the definition of crazy is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different outcome right?) So I think that this repetitive process is certifiably an act of craziness!
The good news is that I’ve determined that there is a problem. Now the trick is going to be to make changes in the way I approach my daily tasks to stop the insanity! The key to this I think, is going to be reducing the number of super important, have to be done today, items on my daily agenda. Stop trying to cram so much in to each day – I mean I’m pretty sure there are probably a couple of things that I can cross off my list each morning because while it would be nice to get it done, I have to ask myself, is it going to prevent me from accomplishing another more important task if I don’t do it or can it wait until later? If it’s not as big of a priority as I initially thought, it automatically goes to the “not necessarily today but sometime soon list”. Right there we’re eliminating some pressure to do more than the hours in the day allow.
I’m pretty organized most of the time (if you’re looking for organization tips, check out my post 5 Ways to Stay Organized In the Midst of Chaos), I just have reduce how much I try to do in a day and get that issue under control. I mean no matter how organized you are, there really is only so much you can do in a 24 hour period. Unfortunately, that’s the hardest thing for me to come to terms with because I want everything to be done NOW so I can say I’m caught up and can rest. The unfortunate truth is that I’ve become less productive, gotten no rest, and made more stress for myself by trying to do it all. Will this trick work? I don’t know but I really hope so and I think it’s a good start.
What do you do when you become overwhelmed and need to “reset” and get back into a less stressful, more productive rhythm? Let me know in the comments below and thanks for reading!
Michael LaRocca says
March 4, 2014 at 8:25 amIf I can, I delete it. If I can’t delete it, I defer it for later. If I can’t defer it, I delegate it. If I can’t delegate it, I do it. That’s my quick way to get out from the feeling of just being overwhelmed.
Alison says
March 4, 2014 at 9:05 amThat’s an awesome process Michael! I am posting that on my cubicle at work as a reminder…Thanks so much for sharing, I think that process will help a lot more than just me!
Just Trixie says
March 6, 2014 at 10:09 amI love this idea too. Unfortunately I work alone so delegating work stuff is out of the question, but the sweeping of the kitchen floor can definitely be delegated. 🙂 Thanks!!
Leslie says
March 4, 2014 at 9:35 amI’m the best procrastinator EVER! Like right now, I’ve got 3 school books to get finished in 4 months.
Alison says
March 4, 2014 at 2:58 pmI’m pretty good myself, which may be part of the problem! lol 3 books in 4 months…like text books?? Ugh….
itzybellababy says
March 4, 2014 at 9:58 amHere I am doing things that I am not supposed to be instead of completing a project.. bad me!
Alison says
March 4, 2014 at 3:00 pmAhh…I am guilty of falling victim of the time suck that is social media 🙂 Guess that’s one of the battles you fight when you work on the computer right??
tara pittman says
March 4, 2014 at 10:11 amI find if I write things down I can be more focused. I procrastinate on the things that I dont want to do like spray the house to prevent ants
Alison says
March 4, 2014 at 3:01 pmI find writing stuff down helps as well — I’m forever making to-do lists!
Lynne says
March 4, 2014 at 11:23 amThis is so very true. I have a sister whose house is almost always spotless, but who can never take time to enjoy it, or sit and rest and chat when company is there because she is frantically following around behind people and cleaning up, or worrying that there are still 10 projects on her list that didn’t get done before the company came. I don’t mean projects like “pick up the big suitcases in the middle of the living room so no one trips over them” I mean projects like “go through the tubs of old clothes in the basement and put aside a stack to donate” – projects that have absolutely no impact on the event currently going on.
I love your statement that no matter how organized you are, you still only have 24 hours in a day. I think she feels that if she doesn’t get the whole list knocked off everyday, she is a failure. I hate that she puts this extra burden on herself. I am trying to decide if sharing this article will be helpful, or will just make her feel I am criticizing her. Lest I come off as too self-righteous, I too have these issues, but I think at a somewhat lower level…..so thanks for sharing it!
Alison says
March 4, 2014 at 3:06 pmOh my a spotless house? I wouldn’t know what to do! I think I’d be afraid to live there lol. I used to get frustrated at all the chores that were perpetually undone, or at least it felt that way since once they were completed it just seemed like they needed to be completed again. I’ve come to the conclusion that some things can wait. Take for example, a pile of clean laundry on the chair that didn’t get folded that day, if it comes down to it, itcan wait …it’ll still be there and if it isn’t, someone wore it and now you don’t even have to fold it right? I still have to remind myself that it’s okay to not have everything perfectly in order all the time, in fact its normal! Thanks for stopping by!
Jayne Townsley says
March 4, 2014 at 12:23 pmWhen I get overwhelmed, I listen to mouseworldradio.com. Disney is one of my coping mechanisms. (I’m not making this up, either. I’m serious.)
Michelle F. says
March 4, 2014 at 8:11 pmI am such a procrastinator. I need all the help I can get.
Terri says
March 5, 2014 at 9:15 amI am a major procrastinator espicially when it comes to house cleaning, Blah, blah
I find making lists helps a lot though
Rhonda says
March 5, 2014 at 11:41 amProcrastinating is like science. Some people (like me) can do it very well. Procrastinating that is. I suck at science!
Just Trixie says
March 6, 2014 at 10:14 amThe entire first paragraph of this article describes me to a “T”. I wonder how you got in my head? 🙂 My coping mechanism to-date has been completely unsuccessful so I’m still in that crazy cycle of doing the same thing over and over again. I’m definitely going to try this unheard of idea of removing things from my to-do list and “pending” them. What a concept! LOL. Thanks for sharing, I’m always looking for new ideas. Have a great day.
Stephanie says
March 9, 2014 at 7:29 amI just said yesterday, “I’m never going to get anything done if I don’t stop finding things to do.” And I realized that really is key for me. So this morning I downloaded an app that has daily, weekly, bi-weekly and monthly routines (AKA chore lists) and I can pin those to a screen on my smart phone.
The things on the list are things I HAVE to do like washing dishes and doing laundry; I made two separate lists using ColorNote and pinned those to a screen on my phone. One is “Craft projects” and the other is “Home Remodel.” Those are both “when time and money permit” things. So if I’ve done everything on my routine for the day, I can give myself “permission” to do a craft, read blogs, play Minecraft, etc.
Alison says
March 9, 2014 at 1:27 pmThat sounds like a great plan…I definitely need to have separate lists…one that I don’t look at until the real important to-do’s are done.
Denise Gabbard says
March 10, 2014 at 9:05 amThat app sounds perfect, Stephanie…was just thinking that was exactly what I needed. What is it called? Please tell me there is an Android version!
Kandi says
March 10, 2014 at 7:30 pmI am horrible about procrastinating. The quote “I can’t think about that now. If I do, I’ll go crazy. I’ll think about that tomorrow” comes into mind (love Gone with the Wind). When I fall behind I honestly take a mental day and create a to do list scheduled out by days. Then get cracking the next day.
Michelle F. says
March 10, 2014 at 9:32 pmI am such a procrastinator.
Alison says
March 12, 2014 at 8:01 amWell, I always say, if it weren’t for the last minute I’d never get anything done!