First things first—what’s your weapon of choice? Paper? A fancy app? The back of a napkin? (no judgment there!) Choose your medium wisely. Something that suits your needs, fits your way of life and is easier for you to use and have with all the time. Just make sure that whenever a thought comes in mind, your list is easy to reach and fill in if needed. Preferably avoid leaving post-its all over the place, although I have a feeling that you won’t be able to avoid it thoroughly. Post-its rule our lives!!!
Set the Tone
Your list needs a theme! Will it be futuristic? Think “Mission: Possible” or “Aspirations of the Day”.Υou want your to-do list to be something encouraging and pleasant to read and not something that intimidates you.
Prioritize your tasks
Now, let’s talk about prioritizing. We all have those tasks that are more important than others. Start by creating a comprehensive task list and identifying deadlines. Assess the importance, urgency, effort, and resources required for each one. Then prioritize your list based on the most urgent tasks, considering dependencies and breaking down complex tasks if necessary!
Start by completing the most demanding tasks, you will be awfully relieved when that’s out of the way.
Go to the supermarket (our fridge has only a butter in its drawers and it’s not suitable for children’s snack)
1. Get my son to practice and do nothing or…..a lot while waiting (I know it’s a total waste of time while I stay in the car and wait to pick him up an hour later but I realized it’s me time and I can do certain things…or not). Sitting and sleeping or just doing nothing for an hour doesn’t always sound so bad, does it? On the other hand, if you feel up to it, you can maybe have your laptop with you and work, write, arrange or just get out of the car and exercise. Walk for an hour or run if you are that kind of person. Whatever fits your needs, you can totally make up for the time you have and an hour is more than enough.
2. Prepare the meals for the next day. I know it’s the least fun job for some people as it is for me but there are always ways to make it more enjoyable and no one can steal that away from us!! We have the power within and we may not be able to change the tasks but we can certainly define the circumstances.
So, as far as I am concerned, I will certainly have a glass of wine while cooking and have my favorite music playing. My children love it, they can hear me sing and realize I am dancing too, (while cutting carrots and onions for the meal), so they gather around in the kitchen and we all end up singing and laughing, we hug each other and talk about our day (while cutting those carrots and onions for the meal). It really turns out to be more fun than I expected.
3. Arrange closets (today I start arranging children’s clothes-I won’t forget to put on my favorite music and maybe dance a little bit while I’m at it). One step at a time, not everything can be done in one day, let’s be realistic.
4. Continue the reading of chapter two of my economics book for my finals – (if I read this chapter today and the next one tomorrow, I will have finished by next Friday. That would be beneficial because I am going to be well prepared when the time of my finals come).
Always Remember To:
Break it down! Got a big task? No one learns the Moonwalk in one night, right? So instead of “Arrange Closets,” go for “Arrange children’s closets”. It would be more realistic to deliver and you won’t feel disappointed if a big task on your list is not done at the end of the day. So, instead of freaking out over finishing it all in one day, split it up into several days and have fun, do it in style and in a good mood. Closets aren’t going anywhere
Embrace the Chaos
Understand that no matter how well you plan, your day will inevitably take wild, unexpected turns and this is where the fun begins. Last-minute emergencies “Last-Minute Crises” will pop up that will require your utmost attention. Let’s face it; they will likely take precedence over that book you swore you’d finish.
The Art of Adaptability: Be prepared to re-arrange your glorious list in real-time, as if you were a poker player flipping cards while the stakes rise exponentially. Remember that “Nap” is always a valid entry when the stress gets real.
Don’t Be Too Hard on Yourself: On the other hand, If you don’t manage to check your tasks as “done” don’t bit yourself up. Missed a task? Not a big deal! Life happens. Just make a note (not on post it) for tomorrow and reset the circumstances, the goal and whatever comes with it.
Celebrate Your Wins
Alright, you’ve completed a task. Don’t just strike it off the list—do a victory dance, sing your favorite song, or reward yourself with a treat. You might as well set a goal along with the completion of the task and actually do it. At some point I had said to myself that if I managed to complete my studying until my deadline ended I would buy myself a necklace I had seen in a store. Another time I set a bigger goal and promised myself to organize a short trip. I did that as well. I like to keep the promises I make to….me!!
Κeep rewarding yourself for every task you complete, no matter how big or small.
The Next Day, Repeat!
Congratulations! You have created a to-do list that may or may not lead to actual productivity. But it’s totally fine! Tomorrow is another day full of unfulfilled promises and dreams of getting your life together.
Start Over: Each morning, reflect on yesterday’s festivities—of priorities, snack rewards, and chaos. Go ahead and compile another list, keeping in mind that it’s somehow expected that you should be perpetually productive.
Conclusion
At the end of the day, if you haven’t ticked off every item on your to-do list, fear not, for you’re not the lone ranger of unfinished tasks—welcome to the club! Remember, even the best of us can’t be productivity superheroes 24/7; after all, Batman has his Batcave to retreat to, and you could use a little downtime too! Life is like juggling flaming swords; sometimes you drop one, and that’s perfectly okay! Celebrate the victories you did achieve, laugh at the list that somehow multiplied overnight, and embrace tomorrow as an opportunity for a fresh start. So, grab a snack, kick your feet up, and let that to-do list simmer for a bit—after all, tomorrow is just a sequel to today, and every good series needs a little cliffhanger! Ultimately, prioritizing your well-being and happiness is what truly matters; overcoming these hurdles can lead to a more enriched and joyful existence. Happy listing!
