Self-care is unique to each individual and can vary from day to day.
Today, try removing one task from your to-do list.
Although to-do lists are helpful for organization and keeping track of tasks, they can also become a source of overwhelming stress.
Take a moment to review your list. Are all these tasks truly necessary to be done right now or today? Can any of them be delegated? Is there anything that can be postponed?
By eliminating just one item from your list or choosing not to do it today, you can alleviate stress, create more time and space in your day, and remember that the world will keep spinning.
Here's a positive affirmation to guide you through this process: "I am making time for more fun."
In the past, I used to maintain an endless to-do list that consisted of tasks for today, tomorrow, next week, next month, and even further into the future. It was a chaotic list with various ideas, projects, errands, and shopping items all mixed together, lacking proper organization.
But now, things have changed. I utilize a project planner specifically designed for major projects, whether it's an online course or building a garden shed. Each project has its own dedicated page where I can list what needs to be done, what items I need to buy, and the dates and times for each task.
Additionally, I add these projects to my calendar and allocate the necessary time for them.
To manage my shopping, I maintain two separate lists—one for in-person shopping and another for online shopping. Once a week, I sit down and review what needs to be ordered online, taking care of those tasks promptly.
As for in-person shopping, I must admit that I personally dislike it, but luckily, other members of my household enjoy it. They kindly take the list and handle the errands, including grocery shopping, or sometimes I order groceries online and have them delivered. Regarding groceries, I recommend setting up a meal plan if possible. While I'm not the best at it, it has proven to save us time and money.
When it comes to contacting people, I directly input their contact information into my calendar, along with the specific reasons for contacting them. Furthermore, I keep a master Word document saved on my desktop, where I categorize and store personal and business contacts in separate sections.
All these practices ultimately free up my daily to-do list.
Although it may still get a bit long at times, I remind myself that I have the freedom to choose which tasks I want to prioritize.
Additionally, I have learned that many of the "must-do" items are not actually urgent and can be postponed. I also make it a point to include enjoyable activities on my to-do list as a reminder to pause and engage in fun things. It could be an art project, watching a movie, taking a long soak in the bath, or even making reservations for a vacation.
Remember, a to-do list doesn't have to be a daunting list of chores. It's perfectly okay to only accomplish one or a few things from the list.
Just ensure that you always include self-care and fun activities as important items on your list.
As an additional way to keep organized, I created quarterly planners where I, in one glance, see my business, family, and personal schedules all on one page, but separated.
I suggest trying different planning and organizing systems and finding what works for you.
What will help you create a life of less stress and more joy?
With Love & Gratitude,
Holly
QT Planner: July, August, September https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B6XQ45YM
QT Planner: October, November, December https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B9R2J3LS
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