Advice From An (almost) Reformed List Maker

Do you have a notebook full of lists? Stacks of “to do” lists sitting around waiting to get checked off? I used to do this incessantly, to the point of my husband making fun of me. Yes, that bad. Especially for someone so not-organized. I think it is my love of writing pen to paper mixed with a combination of the pure satisfaction of checking off things from list. I am not talking about the simple grocery list, which, is of course needed when you have CRS (can’t remember shit) at the grocery store. I’m talking about droning on and on about mythical jobs that need to get done to make you feel like a better person. Example,
1. Book carpet cleaners ASAP
2. Call for estimate PATIO
3. Pick interior house colors
4. Paint house
5. Pressure wash house
6. Clean Garage
7. Clean closets out
8. Organize kids clothes according to size
9. De-clutter toys/donate
10. Scrub tubs
11. Baseboards
12. Mop
13. Laundry
14. Dishes
15. Clean out Fridge
16. Grocery Shop (see addendum A)
17. Exercise (see addendum B)
18. Plan dinner (see addendum A/C)
19. Work on letters with Child 3
20. Take care of child 4, Doc apt 9:30
21.

See how this could go on and on? Do you feel anxiety just reading such crap? I do. I mean, all of these things could currently be getting done. But guess what? I know that already! I don’t need a crazy list taunting me and making me feel bad about all of the things I know are not actually going to happen today. Think about how freeing it is to not have to look at this, and to just intuitively know what to do, and trust that what needs to get done will.

 I’m not saying to go cold turkey and give up your lists completely, that would be ludicrous. But, for a reformed list junky like myself, it really takes baby steps. I went from this type of list to a more fun way to start listing, you know, like counting calories ala certain APs on my phone to list everything I ate in a day. That was feeding the need (haha) for a little while, until my hubs got on me again. His advice, “Let that shit go!”, so I tried it and found out I really liked it. How liberating to just trust that my calories are okay, and not feel the need to track every. little. thing.

So, What do I do now to fill this void? I’m so glad you asked. I journal! I write down things that add to my life. Things that spark my creativity, my imagination, that truly enhance my life instead of weighing them down. My new lists look like this,
1. Take a really hot bath with some good essential oils tonight
2. Do yoga
3. Smile more today
4. 3 things that I am grateful for today
    *my kids
    *my awesome mat
    *my hubby

See what I’m doing here? Gently urging you to stop putting so much pressure on yourself. LET THAT SHIT GO! Enjoy being you, and everything else will fall into place.