A button from my coat had been sitting on my bathroom counter for the past week – it was there to remind me to sew it back on my coat. Unfortunately, I only saw it when I was getting ready for work in the morning and getting ready for bed in the evening. I didn’t have the time or energy at either of those times to take on this straightforward task. So there sat my button, and there I was with my coat flapping in the wind where the button should have been. Recognizing that my “keep it out to remind me” system wasn’t working, I broke down and wrote “sew button” on my calendar.
Although I counsel my clients to write their to-dos on a master list or right on their calendar, sewing on a button seemed too insignificant to warrant such a “formal” step. Yet as I plowed through my task list yesterday and came across my simple reminder, I marched up the stairs to my sewing supplies and sewed on that pesky button. There was something powerful about making a commitment to do it at a particular time – it represented a pledge to myself to get it done. I also saw the reminder when I had time and energy to act on it.
I encourage you to move your intentions to commitment by writing them down on a task list or calendar. Get all those random thoughts out of your head and clean up those “reminder” piles by committing to paper or your electronic reminder system what you need to do and when you’ll do it. I’d love to hear what to-dos you’ve been carrying around in your head or tossing into a pile, and when you’re willing to commit to getting them done.
Best wishes,
I couldn’t agree with you more. Even the very simple things (like your button) gets done so much faster when we write it down. And it is fun to cross off yet another thing we have accomplished.
I teach this to my students and clients all the time. Write an ongoing to-do list and separate the list from MUST do’s and want to do (your button example). This makes the list less intimidating also.
Thanks for a good information.
I do like getting such things out of my head and on paper. It’s a step in the right direction and can stop them from swimming around in my head. I do feel less overwhelmed once I write them down. This is a good reminder and encouragement to continue to do so!
I love my to-do lists. One thing that I find successful is when I sit down to write my list, I write 2-3 tasks in which I already have done so when my list is complete, I get to already cross of those items. It gives me a sense of accomplishment to start off with and gives me the natural motivation to keep pushing through the rest of my list.
A good plan today is better than a perfect plan tomorrow. — Patton