MAKING TO-DO LISTS WORK FOR YOU

When it comes to making a to-do list, the main goal is to stay organized and on top of things.

Maybe the house work has piled up, a deadline is coming, you have errands to run, and when’s the last time you took a shower? Gah! What do you do???

You sit down and write out everything that you need to get done. By the time you are finished, you basically have an entire full page of overwhelming things you need to do. You might have your mind set on finishing everything on that list, but let’s be real, that’s not going to happen.

That list is a reminder of how overwhelmed you felt at the beginning of this journey and how getting organized and making it doable is going to feel GREAT. That list cannot be tackled in the moment, or even day, that you wrote it. In fact, looking at that list may make you feel worse and even more overwhelmed, so let me tell you how you’re going to get it all done.

You’re going to use sticky- notes.

Hear me out. Take that long list, let’s call it “the master list,” and take several items that you want to prioritize first. Write down those items on a sticky- note. Nothing more than what will fit on the sticky-note.

Pro-tip: resist the temptation to write as tiny as possible so that you can fit every item on the sticky- note.

Now on that sticky-note, you will have a smaller, bite-sized, manageable list of tasks that you can realistically get done in the time allotted. Best part is that once it is all completed, you get to toss out the note at the end of the day. 

What about the master list? This is the list you get to take a big black sharpie to! Or you can simply cross things out, or check them off, whatever helps you view that master list as something that is getting smaller.  

Troubleshooting ideas:

• Break down tasks into smaller steps

  • This can be done on your master list or when writing tasks out on your sticky-note

  • Example: Break down “clean the house” into what rooms you’re going to clean and what tasks you have in each room

• Add time limits

  • By adding either how much time you want to spend on the task or how long the task will take, you are training your brain to complete that task within that set time period

Loneliness is a feeling of isolation or a lack of companionship that everyone experiences from time to time. 

It can be caused by physical or social isolation, a feeling of not having meaningful connections with others, or sometimes as the result of listening to our inner critic or negative self-talk. Because loneliness can have a profound effect on a person’s mental and physical health, it’s important to explore possible causes and solutions. 

While we can spend all day exploring the countless reasons as to why you’re feeling lonely, you’re ultimately going to ask me the big question: What can I do about it??

HERE ARE SOME WAYS TO COMBAT LONELINESS

• Reach out and build connection with others
  
  

• Challenge yourself. Step outside of your comfort zone:  join a volunteer group, a weekly work out class, any type of group that shares a common interest of yours and that you can attend regularly
  
  

• Make sure to find time for self-care and nourish yourself with activities that bring you joy: paint, write, play an instrument, dance, sing, hike… oh, and DO NOT forget to, sleep and eat!
  
  

• Know when to log off from social media… too much of it is never good for us! I tell my clients regularly that we’re all allowed those mindless parts of our days to just scroll and unwind or turn off, but it can make a huge difference to CHOOSE to enter that space, rather than to feel stuck going down a rabbit hole for hours at a time.
  
  

• Practice gratitude to shift your feelings towards the good things in your life. Some people find it particularly helpful to write down what they’re grateful for or to share what they are grateful for with others.
  
  

• Take a walk outside. Not only is it a great way to get some fresh air and vitamin D (on sunny days), but it can also help with perspective and remind you of the others that are around.
  
  

• Routines can also be a great way to combat loneliness. By creating a schedule for yourself, you can ensure that you are doing activities that give you something to look forward to and bring you joy. Routines also motivate you to go to the same places and see the same people consistently. With consistency, you’ll be more likely to build relationships with the people you see regularly who share the same interests.