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Makeover your To-Do List – 3 Changes to Make TODAY

Makeover Your to-do list

If you are a woman anywhere in the realm of midlife then you probably have a lot on your plate.  Or perhaps you even have multiple plates that you are trying to keep spinning all at once.  Let me help you…

As a lover of all things organizational, I love me a good list.  Not much is more gratifying than looking at that loaded sheet of paper at the end of the day and seeing most, if not all, the tasks crossed off with Sharpie.  I’ve tried crossing things off with pencil and highlighter however nothing makes me feel quite as satisfied as a Sharpie.  But I digress…When looking at our to-do list we typically derive our greatest joy from seeing all that STUFF done and off the list so we can write another one and start again tomorrow.  Over the next few days, I’m going to share with you 3 changes should make to your daily list.

Don’t worry, I’m not adding more tasks for you to cross off but introducing a couple of categories that I have found add more joy to my days regardless of what I have (or have not) gotten accomplished.

Sharpie 800

Side note:  If you are not using some sort of system to plan how you are spending your time, you need to consider it for many reasons but HERE is a starting place for thinking about it.

Last winter, while on the website of an author and blogger I enjoy named Donald Miller, I discovered that I could sign up for his version of how to break out your day and make your to-do list.  It’s a printable document that describes the psychology of why he made this particular list the way he did.  I find all of that fascinating so I gave it a try.  To my great surprise…it worked just like he said.  I was getting done the many things I needed to do but also looking forward to my days.

One of the biggest changes he makes to the way you tackle your daily tasks is to manage your energy, not so much your time.  So, if you are a low energy person (HI THERE) then you can put those jobs that MUST get done or require the most effort during the point of the day when your energy is high and save more brainless jobs (anyone want to fold laundry) for later in the day when you are fried.

Let me introduce you to one of my favorite sections of Donald Miller’s list which he titled “Storyline Productivity Schedule” (doesn’t that sound fancy?):

Enjoy today 800

Do you see what that section is called???  Things I Get to Enjoy Today…oh, the bliss.  Donald Miller studied work done by Dr. Neil Fiore who is one of the world’s leading experts on procrastination.  Here is what he learned:

Interestingly, one of the reasons Dr. Fiore says we procrastinate is because we believe by doing our work, we’re missing out on something fun or enjoyable.  He found when he had his clients make a list of all the enjoyable things they get to do later in the day, they tended to be more willing and able to get their work done because they knew they were still going to get to enjoy life.

Here is what I’ve added to that list for today:

  • coffee and study time in the morning
  • lunch with Darren
  • watching Chloe play volleyball
  • talking to someone on the phone
  • supper with friends after volleyball
  • a run outside

I could go on and on…the sweet moments are thereLet’s name them, notice them and soak them up!

Add this gem of a category to your to-do list TODAY and I’d love it if you would add a comment letting me know something you will enjoy today.

P.S.  Donald Miller’s site is HERE.  Once you go to the site, you can enter your email to receive the document and list making plan I’ll be referring to for the next few days.  Or you can just use your regular sheet of paper (like mine up there) and add these few items.

 

 

 

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5 thoughts on “Makeover your To-Do List – 3 Changes to Make TODAY”

  1. I love this idea! I was under the misguided belief that I had mastered list making. I actually am a habitual list maker for this very reason. By being intentional it frees me up to be flexible with my time so that should someone or something require some of it I don’t have to be stingy with it and I make time for what I love but I don’t have a section on my list to record it!!!

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  2. What a great way to focus on the good stuff! I have to admit that I am not much of a list maker because I do pretty much the same thing EVERYDAY so making a list seems kind of like a waste of time. However, I may have to start so I can focus on all the positive that I get to enjoy everyday. Thanks for this!

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  3. I think that’s a great idea! Or, you can download the Joy Dare from Ann Voskamp’s website and just count your blessings all day long. It’s good for our hearts to focus on not just the blessings but the one who gives them, that’s for sure. 😉

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  4. Entered to receive the List Making Plan —- Can’t wait – Also doing The Joy Dare!!! Such FABULOUS resources!! Thanks, Allison!

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