How to do my to-do’s?

When you are writing down your to-do list there is sometimes a sense of overwhelm. So many things you need to do -in the house, with the kids, at work. You don’t know where to start and want to give it up. Many of the chores that you write move from one day to the next and you find that you just don’t do what you need to do.

So how can you do all your to-do’s? How to stop moving things from one day to the next?

Sometimes the simple answer is that maybe the list is just too long. Maybe you need to think about the time you have and what you can achieve in that time. However, sometimes the chores that we don’t do, are the ones that we want to avoid.

So, one of the tools that I find very effective is to ask yourself – WHY?

You need to find a reason that will push you to do it. When you will find the reason that is the drive behind what you need to do, it makes it easier to do it. When you write down your to-do list you can add another column in which you will add your why. You don’t have to do it to all, but only to the ones that you recognise as problematic. Also, don’t stop asking yourself why until you will find the right reason that will push you and make you do what you need to do.

For example, I hate going to the dentist. I had a reminder to call and set an appointment for what looks like forever. Every day I set the reminder to the next day. When I started using this tool and asked myself why? Why do I need to go to the dentist? I found that if I wouldn’t go and check I will get to the point in which I will only go when it will hurt and then the problems in my teeth will be too big, and I will have to go many treatments and pay lots of money. If I would’t wait this can be avoided. Then I called and made the appointment.

You are probably thinking to yourself now “well, of course this is the reason to go to the dentist”. But with all the things that go on in our lives we usually don’t stop and think about this things. If we don’t want to do something we think more about why we don’t want to do it, and less about why we do.

Also, it is important to remember that what seem to you common sense is not like that to others.

Common Sense is not always common practice

Brendon Burchars

Sometimes. it is not easy to find your `why`, and you will have to dig deep. Or, you will just ask for help and maybe someone else can help you with it.

Here is a TED talk that expand this idea:

Would love to hear what you take from this post. Let me know in the comments below.

Until next time,

Don’t forget to smile  🙂