Disclosure: I only recommend products/services I would use myself and feel might benefit you as well. This post contains affiliate links, and I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
To-do lists piling up, new commitments popping up on the calendar, no time to catch up… Does this sound familiar?
While I take pride in being pretty organized and regimented in my work to try to stay on top of what’s on my plate, the month of June has definitely not gone according to plan for me, and I’m struggling to stay afloat. I kicked off the month with the unexpected passing of our family dog that totally took me off course, which went right into an already planned vacation to Wyoming, and just when I thought I had a calm week to catch up on all that had accumulated I was knocked down hard with a sickness that atypically took me out for days.
So here I am with just a few days left in June, not having caught up at all and feeling more behind than ever on my writing and the growth of my coaching business while barely staying afloat on requirements for the build of my new house all while trying to keep up with a social life as well.
I know I’m not the only one that feels this way because I see it in society every day. Society is wired these days to wear busyness as a badge of honor and to try to squeeze as much as possible into our days given all the demands faced on a regular basis.
So I’m here to tell you to relax…. It will all get done. You will always find a way to get your priorities taken care of.
The best way to organize your life
The internet provides a sea of information these days. Everywhere you turn it seems someone is trying to give you advice on how to be more productive, how to make the most of your days, and how to utilize the best organizational mechanisms. While there is a lot of really great information out there, it can be confusing and overwhelming to try to consume and implement all of it.
The thing is that it’s not about what someone on the internet says is best, it’s about what strategies and tactics work best for you. Ed Mylett echoes this sentiment as well in his book The Power of One More (links to Hardcover and Kindle). You may need to try a few different methodologies on for size to see what works best for you and this may evolve over time. That’s okay. I personally recommend the Erin Condren planners because I think they allow for this flexibility in planning and organizing methodologies.
Once you fall into a methodology that works for you, this will likely naturally lead into some sort of routine, whether that’s a rather loose routine or strictly regimented. By having this routine, you enter into a comfort zone knowing that you generally accomplish what comes your way that fits into that framework you’ve created for yourself.
Life happens
However, life is messy and not everything that comes your way is going to be able to fit nicely into this framework that you’ve set for yourself, and, in fact, it may temporarily totally implode your framework depending on the magnitude of the event.
Sometimes the events that come your way that knock you out of your productivity routine are unplanned whether it’s an illness, a personal issue that becomes the highest priority, or even as far as a death in the family. When these types of events knock you out of your routine, you know that you have a new highest priority which generally starts with healing yourself and may also involve supporting others around you. This is where the powerful phrase of “I’ll try again later” will help to keep you afloat.
Sometimes the events that come your way are actually planned, like a vacation or a move. While it’s easier to account for these in the framework or try to plan ahead, it’s still not as neat and easy as it seems it should be. And quite frankly, you should be immersing yourself in these experiences as well and enjoying them. On a vacation, you shouldn’t be worried about staying in your framework. You should be taking time for rest and relaxation and being present in the moment. If you’re moving houses or getting married or some other major life event, for example, take some time to enjoy that major life milestone.
All the goods and bads that come along in the “life happens” category are what help us to enjoy the journey of life. So while they may knock you off course, they are all part of what makes the human experience the human experience.
The resulting to-do list debt
I know, especially right now, that it’s much easier said than done to profess that the “life happens” events are what help us to either immediately or eventually be able to find the joy in the journey. When minor or major events or circumstances arise, they can result in what I call “to-do list debt”.
And let me tell you, I am the queen of to-do list debt. While I’m not tied to this anymore, I used to have daily self-education tasks on my to-do list. For example, I would listen to a podcast a day on either coaching and writing. If something came up in my day that I didn’t get to finish the podcast, I’d make myself listen to two podcasts the next day to make up for it.
I realized after some time that this was a bit extreme. I was self-imposing deadlines on self-imposed education and getting stressed if I didn’t keep up with podcasts or journal entries.
Recently, the to-do list debt looks more like being behind on my blogging routine and being behind on reaching out to potential coaching clients or session prep. This to-do list debt feels much heavier to me than being behind on listening to podcasts. It impacts the business that I’m building as well as others around me.
These are just some quick examples of to-do list debt that’s been relevant to my life recently. You likely experience this in a variety of different ways, whether that’s trying to stay afloat with your kids’ activities, DIY house projects, or, of course, your own career.
To-do list debt knows no boundaries.
You’ll always find a way
Despite the heavy feeling of the to-do list debt, you will always find a way to get done what is a high priority for you. It may not be pretty, and it may not be as enjoyable as it usually is, but you will find a way to get it done.
For example, despite a late night delayed return flight from Wyoming and a coaching session with a client the following day, I found a way to make sure the session would still be a success even if it might not have had the normal pretty bow around it that I would’ve liked. As another example, last week, when I finally felt well enough to return to my computer, I buttoned up that blog about 12 hours before posting.
These are recent examples in my life, but I could go on and on about instances where this has happened in my life. While it isn’t always been pretty, it has always gotten done. Our coach Rasa DiSalvo preaches this in our Mastermind container. She encourages us to set dates for presentations, retreats, publishing, etc. because when you set a deadline for yourself and put it out for others to see, you will always find a way to get it done. In fact, it encourages you to take action rather than waiting for perfection.
So next time you feel you’ve accumulated to-do list debt, first of all, take a breath and remember that you’ve always accomplished what you needed to before and you’ll find a way to do it again. Next, recognize your feeling about your to-do list debt and decide to let go of those feelings being your enemy. As Amber Rae describes in Choose Wonder over Worry: Move Beyond Fear and Doubt to Unlock Your Full Potential (links to paperback and Kindle), making these feelings your enemies will just hinder you more. Instead, reframe your to-do list as something you’re grateful to have that takes the pressure off of your brain needing to try to remember all that you have to do.
If you’re not sure how to find what methodology works best for you in building your framework or if you’re unsure of how to create a life you love given the inherent messiness of life, I encourage you to consider transformational coaching.
Reach out to me using the button below to book your free discovery session to see if I can support you along your journey to unlock the full potential of joy, freedom, and strength within your life.
Disclosure: I only recommend products/services I would use myself and feel might benefit you as well. This post contains affiliate links, and I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Disclaimer: This blog should not be construed as providing, or intending to provide, professional financial, legal, psychological, or other professional advice. It is simply meant to share my experiences for those that may find them relatable and helpful.