Confession: I sorta have a lil’ to-do list fetish.

There’s something about the instant gratification of checking off or, even better, drawing a thick line through a TO-DO…especially if the crossed-off list is super long.

One day, while indulging my inner overachiever, my husband Luca said, “Imagine putting all your ambitious plans–all those long lists–into a grid.” This part was easy for me, because that’s how I plan long-term.

“Then make the grid bigger; just spread it out. All the same squares will be there, only with more space.”

My husband is a building engineer, so generally he sees things much more linearly than I do. But he had a point:

Spread the list out. You don’t have to do it all at once. And, realistically, you can’t.

So… my daily list is now limited to 1-3 things that give me a sense of accomplishment, rather than loads of ‘wish-I-could’ tasks that make me feel overwhelmed.

Choosing only 1-3 objectives for the day has a number of benefits:

1. Fulfillment – By dedicating my time only to what I know I can get done that day, I feel less flustered and more productive. When I’ve completed my mini list, I am able to call it a day without feeling guilty. Or I can confidently move on to other projects, if I’m up for it.

2. Presence – I am able to be fully present with the tasks I’ve set for myself, to really FOCUS. This applies also to my time with others. I used to be on strategy calls with clients and thinking about all the other things I needed to be doing. Sound familiar? By being more strategic about my daily list, I now have the peace of mind to fully connect with others.

3. Flow – No matter what else crops up during the day (inspiration or disturbance), I can flow through it with ease, knowing that my TO-DOs are doable . . . or done!

Now that’s a good TO-BE list : FULFILLED, PRESENT, FLOWING!

PS– If you’re looking for a way to quickly and easily organize your long-term plans, check out this FREE LONG-TERM PLANNING PDF. How it works: Use the ‘Theme’ space under each month to write 1 word that describes how you’d like to feel. Then, in the ‘Intention’ box list 1-3 things you’d like to accomplish that month. Happy Planning!

XO

 

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