Life is a To-Do List

Summer is officially here, and if you’re like me, you have a to-do list the length of your arm (plus your other arm) that you need to get done; from mowing the lawn and landscaping to bigger projects like installing a fence or pressure-washing the outside of the house – it can get overwhelming! I always (semi) joke to my wife and others that “life is a to-do list”. It’s true. To some people, that’s seen as a really negative way to view life, but if you ask me, it’s all about perspective.

The saying is only negative if you approach it that way. Sure, a long list of things to be done can be very overwhelming! And with the few months of decent weather that Upstate New York allows, it can be tricky to find the time in between your summer vacation, work, and well, life. Trust me, I get it! So how can anyone think of a never-ending to-do list in a positive manner, you ask?

Break it up.

A to-do list is so much more manageable if you just focus on one task at a time. The more you worry about the list as a whole, the more time you spend overthinking, becoming overwhelmed, and potentially just doing nothing because it’s simply too much! So you’ve got five things that you want to get done this week. Make it your goal to complete one every day. Even the simplest of tasks can give you the sense of accomplishment once crossed off a to-do list. My approach? Start with the easiest and knock them off the list first. Then focus on the big stuff. And if you can’t finish something in one day, start it – you’ll thank yourself the next day as you pick up where you left off.

This doesn’t just have to apply to your to-do list at home either. Take your tasks at work for example. Break them up individually, and tackle them one by one to reduce anxiety and stress. Sure, you may have deadlines to work with, and that absolutely becomes a factor- start with the most urgent, and worry about only that until it’s complete. One thing at a time.

Feel good.

I don’t know about you, but crossing items off a to-do list is a great feeling. It’s a feeling of accomplishment knowing that it’s done, that you saw something through, and that you’re ready to take on the next project. Who doesn’t like that feeling? Keep it going, and you’ll feel unstoppable! And if you’re like me, once you’re on a roll, you don’t want to stop (which is good news for those to-do lists)!

I hope this small bit of advice helps you tackle your to-do lists! If you have any additional tips for managing your tasks, send them my way! Good luck with your projects, whatever they may be!