It’s the weekend. A time for….the gym, laundry, groceries, dry cleaning, car wash, clean garage, organize closest. Having a to do list can keep you focused and help you prioritize tasks. It’s a great tool. But how often do you scan the list and find things like have fun, relax, read a great book, dance, dust off your camera, nap, go hiking?
A tool that works great in some scenarios does not necessarily mean it should be applied to everything. If you find you’re spending your down time ticking items off a never-ending list perhaps it is time to set it down and go have some fun.
No matter what challenges and goals you are investing your energy and efforts in, setting aside time to relax and enjoy life. Engage with those you love. Spend time with someone who makes you laugh. Tuck the to do list into your back pocket and take a deep breath. Eventually, somehow things like laundry, errands and sweeping the garage get done.
You may find, as you start into your work week next week that by giving your to do list a rest and doing something that refreshes you and has you feel like you are enjoying life, you have even more energy and focus to check off those items. Worth a try?
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Hi Tambre,
You know I really needed this reminder. I’ve been so caught up in all the ‘good ideas’ and getting things done that I think the whole point of weekend relaxing has slipped by me the last little while. I think because I’m really enjoying the writing, the workshop planning and I’m excited about it I don’t feel like I’m working too hard. However, even the good stuff needs to have a break once in a while simply to recharge.
A very important message and I am grateful for the reminder!
Blessings.
Like you, Bonnie, I love what I do so much that it doesn’t often feel like work so I can tend to do it seven days a week AND only for a certain period of time. After an incredibly wonderful fall filled with opportunities to facilitate workshops, teleclasses, corporate retreats and corporate leadership programs I felt I needed to clear my head. So I’ve set strong boundaries around the Thanksgiving holidays and my weekends for the rest of this year. Balance, fun, connecting with friends and family are also a part of my success formula!
Hi Tambre,
I am addicted to my To Do Lists! Writing things down is the only way I can clear out the chaos in my head before I do the writing! I agree that the balance is very important. I keep this in mind as well as consider my energy levels say better at the beginning of the day and of the week than at the end, so I schedule my To Do’s accordingly.Different things work better at different times, too. Often, though, knowing I’m going to curl up with a good movie or do something else relaxing when the “work” is done keeps me moving merrily along!
Happy Saturday ( Baking bread and starting Christmas baking; movie this evening
Lori
Well I took your advice on Thursday this week Tabre. I decided I needed a ‘me’ day and took to the spa! I got a new hair cut, color, manicure and pedicure. After which I went shopping and had lunch at a local cafe. It was a beautiful sunny day and I walked our little town. Enjoyed myself so much. No phone, no computer, no list and no deadlines. I can tell you it really does give you a new energy! Thanks for sharing.
Great advice, Tambre!
I have been lucky that there is one day a week that one is not allowed to have a ToDo list applied to it! And, it involves (Friday night) having friends join me for dinner (which may last until the wee hours of Saturday morning, more often than not), a day of walking, reading, and enjoying nature.
When my kids were younger, Sunday was part of the “off-list”, to do what they wanted to do. Nowadays, in the Summer, it’s my baseball day- where I spend the day with other friends at the ball park, and 1/2 the time with my grandchild (both are 150 miles away).
Take this advice from Tambre. Schedule at least 1 NO ToDo list day a week.
Love health days. The day when I choose what to do including working if I want but my choice not pressure. I wonder if we learned how to balance the musts with the like toos would we be healthier, happier and perhaps wealthier because we would value different things?
Tambre:
Definitely worth a try to put away the to do list and focus on more fun things to do. Next Friday, will chuck out the to do list and just go out and have some fun. Thanks for posting this article.
Great, tip, Lori…to schedule particular things according to available energy levels. Thanks for stopping by with your comment. I love my to do lists as well – just also learning to allow myself the luxury of putting them down sometimes
Perfect plan and what a great day to toss aside the to do and focus on fun…enjoy!
I’m totally addicted to lists! I’ve even dedicated my blog to them: http://www.listproducer.com It’s great to sit down and get everything out of your head and onto paper. It makes everything much more manageable! Thanks for the reminder — putting fun on the to-do list is a must!
I love them, too. And learning to set them aside or make sure they include some balance of fun, exercise, connecting with others is part of using them effectively instead of them using you.