Do you ever feel as if there is not enough time in a day to get everything done that you want to do?
I’ll reword the question just slightly.
Are there times when you feel that you cannot accomplish what you need to do?
I am there at times. As hard as I try, I am there more frequently than I would like (or like to admit).
What about you? What do you do when the list is longer than a day, or perhaps longer than several days?
Do you make a list and prioritize?
Do you pray?
Do you walk away, take a break?
Do you say humorous things like, “Stick a fork in me, I’m done!”
What do I do? I make a list. If I end up making a list that is fairly daunting in size, I hi-lite 3 items on that list. If I accomplish those 3 crucial items that day, I accomplished what I set out to do. It was obatainable, and it felt good.
But it isn’t always that perfect or simple, is it?
What do you think? Before I say more…I am curious about your initial thoughts. Who knows, you may change the discussion path completely!
Annies Goat Hill Handcrafted Soaps 
I write myself notes all the time. I leave notes to myself in the car.
When I leave a comment here, I always have to type my name, email, website too.
I make and then ignore a LOT of lists! Well, I do follow a lot of my lists too, but it seems life has a way of superseding my lists and deciding the course of a day, or week…or…
Sometimes this frustrates me, and even tires me out. And yes, sometimes I remember to pray about it. And then often I have to just do what I am able and remember each day is a gift and a blessing and be thankful I was able to do even a little, then go to bed and get a good night’s sleep.~
Thanks for your post! We could use some strategies to create effective goals we can achieve. Through this, we can achieve more in a lesser period of time.
http://growingwithtruth.com/blog/110/strategies-to-create-effective-goals/
Lists are a must!
But then you have to read the list and begin doing the things on your list. That’s where I breakdown.
I would rather start my list, crumple it up, re-write it, re-write it again… prettier this time… draw a few pictures on my list, add some more to-do’s to my list… take a nap… go back to my list to re-write it in another color ink, then get so overwhelmed by my list that I get an anxiety headache and have to go lay down. When I get up… I repeat the process. I’m not sure, but I think I might be a bit of a procrastinator?
I have this little agenda book…..it has daily pages that I write my to-do list in. Short term and long term things get added. I do “hot” items first. Meaning things that must be done first. As I accomplish things, I cross them off that list. On the next day, I add all that didn’t get done the day before and then add today’s list to it. It’s really handy because I can write phone numbers and appointment dates. I can jot down notes as I make phone calls…..and not worry about where I put them or if they were trashed. I accomplish what I can and the rest will have to wait. As long as the hot list is completed, I’m good.
I make alot of lists, but well…then I loose them. lol Get done what I can and don’t fret what I can’t. Tomorrow is another day, right?
Every day, I work by a list. With a husband that works off, five kids and their schedules, work demands, and life in general, I have to be able to prioritize those things so that the “importants” get done. But, sometimes, I love doing the “stuff.” That’s the creative, fun side of life that I couldn’t do without. It’s all in the balance of life – do the things you have to do and then have some enjoyment.
Joanna, yep, it is bothersome when you have to type all that (name, email, etc…) just to leave a blog post. You have a Google blog, I have Word Press…we both end up typing identification.
Another thing…since we are on this topic, I do a lot of my blog comments from my mobile phone. There are are some Google and Type Pad blogs that refuse to accept my contact information, regardless. So I normally cannot leave comments on those until I am back at my PC.
A pain? Yes! But I am glad we have these connections!
Kathy B, you said that well. “I have to just do what I am able and remember each day is a gift.” It sounds like you let it all go at some point…knowing what is the small stuff. Isn’t most of it small stuff? If not all?
I decided a few years back to reduce my list of have-to’s. I don’t work outside the home anymore, and I really like to be in or about my home. I like the availability I have to decide what to do. I used to find it daunting to line up as many things as possible and challenge myself to accomplish them. That seemed to be a popular thing to do with all the ads telling us women that we could have it all. Well I had all I could take and my family did without a lot of my time while tried to live that out.
Now, I like to take time to smell the roses. I do have a priority list that I post things under. First, the Lord. If I don’t take time daily to spend in His word and in prayer, I’m not much good to Him, myself or any one else. Second:my family & home. I believe I am called as a wife and mother to stand by them and support them; make meals, clean, shop, decorate, and make a home that is welcoming and comfortable. I still work on organization and cleanliness:) Third: my ministry. I have made a committment to something that I must keep. People are depending on me each week.
Now. If I can do these things reasonably and then have the time and energy to take on something else, I do. But I’ve learned a valuable lesson. How to gently say NO! Avoiding stess helps me balance all these other things and do them well. Nobody likes a screaming meme in the house.
This has helped me. I’m eager to hear about others.
Tildet, you are welcome. I still share some of my strategies in a very near blog, probably tomorrow or the next day. I do have a system. Making myself adhere to it is a challenge! And isn’t less more in many of these cases?
I see a link to your blog, thank you for the invitation!
Alix…hmmm…that might sound slightly familiar. Familiar on certain days when I have lost my mojo. You, a procrastinator? I would have never thought.
I find that doing what is most important, grabbing the challenge, putting it behind me, works best. Better said than done…but I give it my best shot!! I have to…you know what happens when you slide, even for 24 hours. More on this…
Ah-ha…Becky…your little agenda book is good. Kudos. That is partly (similar) what I will be discussing in a follow up post.
Amy, love it! “I make a lot of lists, but well…then I lose them.” Okay…you have made me giggle!!!
Debbie – You are a busy lady! Wow…you deserve a spa day. What is a spa day, right? Your very last line is pretty much what I am leading up to, “It’s all in the balance of life – do the things you have to do and then have some enjoyment.”
More to be said…and I will come back and comment again. For the future post…or even for now…
What is the reality of busyness?
What is the small stuff?
How do you prioritize?
Less is more!!!!!
I don’t do lists well. I have tried, and failed miserably. So why set myself up for that? What I don’t remember, doesn’t get done. Is it a huge loss? Nope. Not usually. We tend to remember the really important stuff — the basic life sustaining requirements. The rest is fluff.
I’m working to remove myself from the mouse wheel. Simple pleasures. Laughter (lots of laughter). Love. Family. Friends. Connections to all of the above and to the Creator of life and this fabulous planet we call home. That’s where it’s at for me. It turns into this Simple Abundance.
Lynnanne, so well said.
The need to ground ourselves.
We are so easily tugged, pulled, moved to a track that really isn’t within the scope of our own.
There is nothing wrong with growth, but not at the expense of our core being.
I’m a list maker too. When I cross things off my list-I feel so good. And usually I find I’m able to get more done than I thought. But most days-I still find there isn’t enough hours in the day to do all I have to do-and all I want to do. Neat post!
Hi Tipper! Thank you! You know, you are right, it does feel good to cross things off of the list.
I have ways of staying organized, keeping the to-do list under control. I do plan to shre.
Apparently we all share in the same malady, so much to do, such little time to do it!
Is it important how we manage it, even before it hits the list?
I have ideas.
Ugh!! When I was young, 24 hrs was not enough, because there were so many fun, adventurous, playful things to do and see. Now, 24 hrs isn’t enough time to get all my work done, chores at home caught up, and keep up with all the mishaps of life. Balance – I’ve got to find balance.
For me, I’m an early bird; so, I try to knock off many of my tasks early before the business of the day begins.
I find it interesting how you broke down the lack of time in a day by age. A lack of time to get all of the fun things done when younger, not enough time to get work done at this stage in life. How to find it?
I wonder if we, and I say we because I feel a lot of us fit in those shoes, can reverse some of our focus on work…bring play back in. Balance.
I want to discuss balance in life…then I plan to share my list organization. It may not be for everyone, and it isn’t elaborate…pretty dry stuff. It works.
The balance in life…another story!
Mary,
As you know I write notes. I try and do EVERYTHING on the list. Most days I end up leaving atleast two things not done. The next day, those two things are at the top of that days list. I drive myself crazy at times. But I would be totoally lost if I didn’t have them!
Arnita, you are a perfect example of a person to jump in on this conversation. You like to get things done, it drives you nuts when you don’t. You rely on your lists! So do I.
Right now I have 5 lists going. I hope to explain what I am doing in a day or so, and ask for comments then too!
[…] week I wrote two posts, When 24 Hours Is Not Enough (here) and Bringing The Balance Back Into A Busy Life (here). Unanimously, the comments circled around […]