You Can't Do Everything

I am a huge fan of to-do lists.  In fact, I make one every single day.  I have a to-do list app on my phone (Awesome Note) that keeps my list at my fingertips all day.  I put everything on that one list; there are no separate lists for fitness goals, work projects, or household chores.  It all goes on one list.  I have one "whole" life so I have a holistic list.  I do separate my list, however, by timeframe.  I have one to-do list for things that must be done "today," and others for "this week," "this month," and "this year."  They are all housed within the same app so it's easy to transfer activities from one list to another.  I truly believe a daily to-do list is essential to reach your goals.

So, what goes on my to-do list?  Everything!  Now, you can't really do everything without getting burned out or feeling so stressed that you lose sight of why you're working towards your goals in the first place.  However, I do put everything that needs to be done on my list; I just make sure I choose the most important items to put on there.  Anything I need to do to get fitter and healthier, any household chores that need to get done, homework that needs to be finished, and reminders to email my boss back or call my mom about something goes on there.  Any of that stuff that needs to happen today goes on, you guessed it, my "today" list.  If it would be "nice" to get to today, it doesn't go on the "today" list.  Instead I move it to my "this week" list.  That way, only the most important things go on the "today" list.  Because I really can't do everything.  But I can make sure I get through each "today" list and then move on to the "this week" if I have time!  That way, every night when I go to bed, I feel very accomplished because I finished my list.

I review my lists throughout the day to make sure I'm making the best use of my time (and yes, updating this blog is on my list!).  Once all the tasks are checked off, I can either move on to the less urgent tasks or, just as important, take some time to relax!  I also review my longer term lists to see if any item needs to be moved up in priority.  Maybe it was on the "this year" list but now it really needs to be done "this month."  I make those changes accordingly.

I also have a number of to-dos that are reoccurring.  These items I star so that at the end of the day, before I delete all my completed to-dos, I "uncheck" these items so they are back on my list for the next day.  My reoccurring to-do items include: workout, drink shakeology, and blog.  These three items move me toward my big goal this year of losing 70 pounds.  They comprise the daily action steps for fitness, good nutrition, and accountability.  I used to include eating at the table, but that's become habit and is no longer necessary to include on my list.  However, when work starts on Thursday, I'll probably add "pack tomorrow's meals" to the list so I remember to get my food ready the night before work.

There's nothing magical about my list.  I just do it everyday to make sure I get the most important things done each day.  Each task either moves me closer to one of my 10 goals for this year or is something mundane that just needs to be done.  Once work starts, work tasks will also find their way onto my list. Productivity at work will mean less stress at night worrying about what I didn't finish that day.

So, what's on my list today?  Here it is:

• Workout *
• Drink Shakeology *
• Blog *
• Call parking
• Respond to S.K.'s message
• Review Coach back office
• Look into planning a Shakeology taste-testing party
• Research timeframe for starting workout challenge group
• Research successful fitness blogs

See, nothing special there.  Just productive :)

And, what's on my "this week" list?  Things that would be nice to do today but don't have to get done today:

• Pick up parking pass
• Post meal plan to blog
• Weigh-in and take measurements: share on blog, Facebook, and twitter
• Order birthday present for bf
• Check online to see if book list was posted for class
• Request loan refund from school

I don't move to this list until the "today" list is all complete.  Now, could I finish all of those things today?  Probably.  (Except the weigh-in which is scheduled for Sunday.)  But remember, we can't, or maybe the better saying is that we shouldn't, do everything!  We need down time to enjoy our progress!   This feels especially important for me right now because once classes start, even with the best to-do list, I will have next to no downtime.  Grad school is hard and takes up a lot of time.  But I know I can't do everything, which is why I'll cut other non-essentials from my list when school starts.  While I'd love to continue to blog every day, it's probably not going to happen.  I'll do it at least once a week (the accountability is important to reach my fitness goals) but if I have to choose between spending an extra 15 minutes with my boyfriend after finishing homework versus writing a blog post, I'll choose the free time over the blog most days.  Things that grad school will NOT push of my daily tasks are those related to my health: my workout and my shakeology.  Grad school is not worth sacrificing my health and fitness over.  And besides, a workout takes about an hour or less so I can make that a priority and fit it in first thing in the morning.  And Shakeology?  All of 2 minutes in a blender.

Alright, that's my rant about the awesomeness of to-do lists.  Stay healthy!