Every morning, I wake up with a singular aim: to conquer my to-do list. “Today, I’m going to tackle tasks with gusto,” I tell myself. “I’ll be super productive and will feel amazing about my accomplishments.” But, just like my resolution to cut out sugar, reality often has different plans.
Some days, I genuinely make significant progress on my lengthy list of “things to do.” Yet, more commonly, I find myself at the end of the day staring at a pile of clean laundry that’s been sitting in the basket for days, regretting the calls I should have made, and wishing I had actually cleaned the toilet—again (all while hoping that no guests will need to use that bathroom until I get to it).
To-do lists serve an essential purpose; they help us track everything we need to manage because, let’s be honest, no human brain can remember it all. Lists themselves aren’t inherently negative; they assist with organization. Certain tasks, like that preschool registration form I keep forgetting to submit, definitely have deadlines (I’ll be right back to handle that).
However, it’s those self-imposed deadlines we attach to every little item that really weigh us down. The pressure to complete everything creates a never-ending race against a clock that always seems to tick too fast. Why do we inflict this upon ourselves? Sure, getting the laundry folded promptly is nice, but if it doesn’t happen, who really suffers? Nobody’s missing out on opportunities because someone had to snag a shirt from the laundry basket instead of the drawer. Honestly, what are a few wrinkles compared to the mental relief we could gain by letting go of trivial matters?
Imaginary deadlines are just one factor in why we need to ease up on ourselves regarding our to-do lists. Consider all the tasks we accomplish that never make our lists—like “spend 20 minutes scraping gum off the carpet,” “clean up after the dog,” or even the more mundane stuff like “do the dishes” and “change the sheets.” If our lists reflected all our daily efforts, they would be exponentially longer, and we’d have many more items checked off.
Yet, we often overlook those unwritten tasks that consume our time, focusing only on what’s explicitly listed. And heaven forbid we leave anything unchecked. Instead of acknowledging our achievements, we berate ourselves for not doing enough, leading to feelings of defeat and a lack of motivation to do anything further.
Why do sports teams have cheerleaders? It’s to ensure that positive voices drown out the negative ones. If we wouldn’t tolerate harsh criticism from others, why do we accept it from ourselves?
Even when we don’t accomplish as much as we’d hoped, we should celebrate the small wins and, if needed, set a goal to improve tomorrow. It’s far easier to strive for more when we’re not burdened by the unrealistic expectations we impose on ourselves.
We do a lot already. And if you’re ever in doubt, take a couple of days off from doing anything and watch how quickly chaos ensues at home.
So, let’s say it together: Forget you, to-do list. I’ll tackle what I can, when I can.
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Summary
The pressure of to-do lists can often lead to unnecessary stress, as we impose unrealistic deadlines and neglect to acknowledge the daily tasks we complete that aren’t formally listed. Celebrating small accomplishments is crucial for maintaining a positive mindset. By letting go of the relentless pursuit of perfection, we can reduce self-criticism and empower ourselves to tackle what truly matters.