The Tyranny of the To Do List
Or stop the world I wanna get off!
I don’t know about you, but I’m not a fan of the never ending To-Do list any more.
I’ve spent more years that I can count doing stuff that made me feel like I was super productive, but now it looks more like just a lot of wasted time.
We all know there are things we all must do, but worshiping at the altar of stress and overwork and calling it productivity is so 20th century.
We need to rethink our ideas about what we do with our precious time and what we can let go.
So here’s how you can decide to get off the hamster wheel of productivity.
Be more selective about what you put on your To Do List. And asking yourself some good questions before you commit to writing anything new down on that dang list.
You may even want to start calling it your Joy List instead.
Here’s some questions to ask yourself to get you started.
Question #1. Is this something I really need to do myself? Or is it something I took on for someone else because I think I should do it for them? Have I bought into the thought that I’m the only one that can do it?
Decision: Stop being responsible for being too helpful and shall we say it, controlling. Give that action right back to the person who should be doing it now.
Question #2. Is this necessary? Do I really need to do it? Can I just stop doing it? Would anyone even notice?
Decision: Stop doing it and see what happens. If someone asks you about it you can say that they can do it if they want, but you’re not gonna do it anymore.
Question #3: Is this something I agreed to do because I panicked and didn’t say no in the moment? Do I really want to do it? If not, you know what you need to do.
Decision: Call the person back and tell them you can’t do it and move on. No excuses. Just say you can’t do it and leave it at that. You are not a bad person if you stand up for yourself.
Question #4. Is this something that will help me achieve a big goal that’s important to me and would make my life better?
Decision: Heck yes! Put it on the list.
Question #5. Will this make me happy and give me a chance to relax and recharge? Will I get to spend more time with my family and friends? Does the thought of doing it energize and excite me?
Decision: Oh yeah! That’s going on the Joy list too.
So how does this make you feel?
Do you think you’ll miss the drudgery of the perpetual To Do list? Or are you ready to start grooving with your Joy List instead?
Will you feel guilty for not doing all the things that make you bone tired and resistant, instead of hopeful and energized?
Key Message: Only you can decide how you want to live your life. But you do have a choice. Stop buying into the shoulds and start living with purpose, passion and joy right now.
Here’s some other stories to help you make that leap.
Live Life with Delight Not Fear How to Look Fear in the Eye and Say I’m Doing it Anyway How I Discovered I Was an Extroverted Introvert It’s Never Too Late to Rewrite Your Own Life Story
Linda Locke is a writer and mentor/teacher. She lives in Southern California in Ventura County by the Coast with her husband and lots and lots of books.
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