THE CURIOUS CASE OF THE VANISHING TO-DO LIST
Has that spring-time rush of enthusiasm for change and getting stuff done shifted to daydreaming about the beach - leaving all your beautiful goals, promises, and project plans in the dust? You’re not alone.
I can find a thousand things to do when I have a daunting project in front of me. Maybe you’re like me? Put a big project in front of me - or even a list of things to do - and suddenly I have all kinds of energy for cleaning the house, doing the laundry, organizing a drawer, color coding my closet, taking on a new recipe, or researching the best next plant for my new butterfly garden. What is that thing we do?
I like to tell myself that I’m creative. I’m strategic. Maybe almost a genius! That I work best under pressure. The closer to a deadline, the better my focus, and the better the final product. Maybe that’s it. Maybe it’s just the way I’m wired. What I do know is that the toll of this habit - yes, its a habit - can leave me pretty amped up and amped up equals stressed and stressed equals nothing good.
What I also know is that if I look at the less than pleasant project in front of me and set my mind to taking it on - really owning it - I can slay it in record time. Facing into it and actually doing the work is never as big as I imagined it to be. A lot in life is an illusion. We often think something is so much bigger than it really is.
So there’s mindset. That’s first. Then, there’s the doing.
Awhile back, I started using the Pomodoro method - a super simple productivity hack that, after I got over myself, had me careening through my to-do lists. The concept is easy - set a timer and work for 25 minute stretches of focused work, broken by five minute breaks. After four consecutive 25 minute work and 5 minute break sessions, there’s a 30 minute break. No email breaks, looking at texts, scrolling. Nothing but the list. And, no prioritizing - start at the top and work your way down. Right - I didn’t think it would work either. I’m too right brained, too creative. Well, big ego surprise, it worked. I got more done in that initial 25 minute session than I often get done in a morning. It works for big projects, as well as gangly unrelated lists.
Even so - with a mindset shift and a cool project management tool in hand, focus is still an issue for me. You, too? My secret weapon? I use a blend of essential oils that, when combined with all of the above, puts me in full control. I use it all the time. It’s called InTune, a certified, pure, tested grade blend of oils that assists with focus and clarity of thought. It helps balance activity in unique ways for each part of the brain. Chemistry rocks. And, for me, my inability to focus is inextricably tied to my brain chemistry. If any of this feels familiar to you, get your hands on some of this - there’s a link below.
While there may be no magic bullet to make all of our responsibilities and lists disappear, there definitely are ways to conquer procrastination.
Everyone procrastinates at one time or another, but it doesn’t have to be a permanent thing. Whether you prefer the tried-and-true mindset approach, finding productivity strategies that work for you, or trying on alternative methods like hacking your brain chemistry naturally with essential oils, the best thing is to experiment with different approaches until you find something that works for you. There’s no shame in seeking out help when it comes to owning your time and keeping your life on track. Get creative and give yourself permission to experiment! Rome wasn’t built in a day- and even Rome had to start somewhere.