Are you a list maker? Does it work? Do you actually ever complete every project on the list? ‘To Do’ lists just don’t’ seem to work for me. Why? Because I’m a Mom.
I’ve been sitting in front of my computer for the past three hours trying to figure out which item on my original 31 Days outline to write about on this Day 11. I’ve been procrastinating because for each item on the list I’ve had one reason or another why I couldn’t post about that tonight.
You see, I have the ideas, I just don’t have the photos. It’s nighttime and photos taken at night in my house might as well be taken from under a rug! The lighting is terrible. Which bring me to an item that’s been on my LIST for ages… improving the lighting in my living room.
Then my sister saved me. She sent me a note about why ‘To Do’ lists don’t work.
I had to think about this for a minute and realized she’s right! ‘To Do’ lists don’t work for me because I’m a Mom and I’m always doing things for others. I can complete tasks only under pressure and actually getting through more than one thing on a ‘To Do’ list is almost impossible.
Have you ever read the book When You Give a Mouse a Cookie? That’s so me! That’s so every Mom in the world!
We get up, we wake up kids, we get them ready for school… we feed kids breakfast… we may throw in a load of laundry… empty the dishwasher… pick up the shoes left in the hallway… make lunches… and sweep the kitchen floor all before actually bringing the kids to school. Somewhere in there you may have just completed ONE thing on that ‘To Do’ list.
There is always one thing at the top of the list. How do you know what that one thing is?
It keeps coming up.
I don’t make a doctors appointment the first time my child tells me he/she has a sore throat; but by the third time I do.
it keeps coming up so I know it’s important.
Too many times I write a to do list and things sit on it forever until I decide to delete them. There’s no pressure to get through the list and get things done. When there’s pressure from outside sources enough times, then I know it has to get done.
Being a mom, you’re always doing for others.
It’s important to remember to do things for yourself once in a while.
Remember your passion and make time to fit it in. For the past year, my passion has been painting furniture and writing. It’s something I love doing just for me.
For the past year, I’ve made it a point to set time aside every week to work on my own passions. In doing so, I’m finding that I’m much happier. I’m much more patient with my family. My mind is clearer.
Instead of getting frustrated that I never had time for me, I’m now ok with having days where my life is 100% about the kids, because I know that I’ve set time aside for me too.
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