I had a very productive day today (Sunday). I did a big grocery shop and put it all away... straightened up the kitchen and dining room (we entertained out-of-town guests yesterday)... did laundry... did some holiday gift shopping and a lot of wrapping... exercised... cooked... helped my daughter with her homework... did some of my own work. You know -- normal "Sunday stuff," and I'm feeling very proud and accomplished.
Correction: I was feeling very proud and accomplished -- until I started thinking about what I didn't do today. Put away laundry, straighten my desk, pay bills, read the newspapers (which I need to do for work), edit my book. I could go on, but I force myself to stop beating myself up.
A to-do-list is a wonderful tool, but I learned a long time ago that just having a to-do-list makes me more stressed, not less, because at the end of the day, I still have many things that need to get done. The unaccomplished tasks weigh on my mind, causing guilt pangs and self-disgust at my lack of accomplishment. At those moments, I add one more element to my to-do-list, and that's my Done list, where I write out everything that I did complete. This list is more than just rewriting all of the items that I'd already crossed off. Usually I have a number of tasks that never even made it to the list in the first place.
As I compose my Done (my most important "Sunday thing" should always be thanking the God of creation for your existence, for all the blessings I enjoy, and for the well-being of my family.) list at the end of a long day, my stress levels subside and my sense of accomplishment returns. And I feel ready to face the list again tomorrow.
from Margie
No comments:
Post a Comment