I rise every morning with a singular mission: to conquer my to-do list. “Today is the day I’ll tackle my tasks like a boss,” I tell myself. “I’m going to be super productive and feel fantastic about it!” But then I remember that I vowed to stop binge-watching my favorite shows, and we all know how that story goes.
Some days, I genuinely make substantial progress on my endless list of “things to do.” Yet, most evenings find me staring at the pile of laundry that’s been wrinkling in the basket for days, realizing I’ve neglected to make important phone calls, and cringing at the thought of my unclean bathroom (let’s hope no guests decide to use it before I get to it!).
We create to-do lists to manage the overwhelming number of tasks that no sane person could remember. Lists aren’t inherently bad; they help us stay organized. Sure, some tasks have to be completed by a certain date (like that preschool enrollment form I keep forgetting…oops, I’ll get to it).
However, it’s the imaginary deadlines we impose on every single task, no matter how trivial, that truly wear us down. The anxiety we attach to finishing everything creates a race against a clock that always seems to be moving faster than we’d like. Why do we do this? While it would be great to fold and put away the laundry promptly, the world won’t end if we don’t. Missing a clean shirt from the drawer instead of the basket? Not a big deal. Why do we let a few wrinkles cause us so much mental anguish?
These invisible deadlines are just one reason we need to ease up on ourselves regarding our to-do lists. Think about everything we accomplish daily that doesn’t even make it onto the list. I’ve never included “spend 30 minutes scraping gum off the carpet,” or “clean up after my dog,” or even the usual chores like “wash the dishes” or “change the sheets.” If our lists actually reflected all the tasks we tackle, they’d be far more extensive — and we’d have a lot more items checked off!
Somehow, we disregard those invisible tasks that consume hours of our day and only focus on what’s written down. Heaven forbid a task remains unchecked! Instead of celebrating our achievements, we berate ourselves for not doing more, leading to burnout and a complete lack of motivation.
Just as sports teams benefit from cheerleaders and pep rallies to lift their spirits, we, too, need to be our own cheerleaders. If our bosses or friends spoke to us like we tend to speak to ourselves, we’d be horrified. If we wouldn’t accept that kind of harsh judgment from anyone else, why do we allow it from our own minds?
Even if our to-do list isn’t fully completed, let’s take a moment to applaud our small victories and, when necessary, set more attainable goals for tomorrow. It’s much easier to thrive when we’re not weighed down by self-imposed pressure to be perfect.
We do a lot, and if you’re still not convinced, try doing absolutely nothing for a couple of days. You’ll quickly see how fast chaos ensues around your home.
So, repeat after me: “Forget you, to-do list! I’ll tackle whatever I can, whenever I can.” For additional insights, check out this post on home insemination.
In summary, we all need to learn to let go of the unrealistic expectations we place on ourselves. Embrace the chaos, celebrate small wins, and remember that life isn’t just about crossing off items on a list. For those looking to enhance their journey into parenthood, resources like this fertility booster for men and this guide on pregnancy can offer valuable information.