How To Do Your To-Do’s

How to do your to-do’s as a Monday post seems like the perfect distraction from getting to the things you need to do! But I promise this tip is gold and you’ll read it and be ready to take on the day, the week!, with your best.

Writer Jenée Desmond-Harris tweeted this:

"I started dividing my to-do list into 1) things I have to do, 2) things I want to do, and 3) things other people want me to do. Life changing! I often don’t get to #3 and I finally realized... this is what it means to have boundaries."

The reality is this sounds way more simple than it actually is to do. Sometimes the lines are all blurred between have-to’s and want-to’s, and other people’s needs and wants for you. Especially as a mom. I mean, my other people are my people and they literally depend on me for their needs and wants, and I often am expecting them to do what I want, right?! I’m also at the middle stage in motherhood of transferring their dependence on me to them, letting them learn the independence they crave with the accountability that comes with it.

When I really just look at my personal have-to’s versus want-to’s, I can make a pretty quick to-do for the day and the week.

I have to take care of my spiritual, mental and physical well-being.

I have to take care of my kids, getting them to school, feeding them, getting them to appointments.

I have to reschedule that dentist appointment!

I want to practice my violin, to write, to work with my skin clients.

Other people want different things from me at different times and I leave that last part of the to-do list blank until something comes up. Writing it there, at the #3 priority, helps me better visualize what my really priorities are so that I can appropriately decline or reschedule.

This week is moving-to-Germany focused and I’m excited because it’s finally time to start physically moving and cleaning things in the house to be organized and ready when the movers come in a few weeks. I’m tired of lists living in my head and the notes on my phone and ready to check things off!

I hope it’s a fulfilling week for you! Remember: 1) Things you have to do, 2) Things you want to do, 3) things other people want you to do. Learn to distinguish the difference between them.

love,

dayna