A fully completed to-do list can feel almost mythical during the busiest seasons of life. And for some, during every season. But when was the last time you took stock of the tasks you’re writing down each week?
If you’ve noticed that lately you’re never able to check everything off, or that specific tasks are always getting overlooked, it may be time to consider if they should even be on your list. This week we’re taking a deeper look at what it can feel like when a to-do list has taken over your life.
Here are 5 signs you’ve outgrown your to-do list:
1. You’re always moving tasks over from one day (or week or month) to the next
When was the last time you didn’t have to carry over several tasks from one list to the next? If it starts happening too often, your list will just continue to grow and become overwhelming. After a while you’ll have a lot of overdue tasks piled together on a very confusing list.
2. Your list fills you with dread and anxiety
Not that you need to be jumping for joy when you’re looking over tasks for the day, but it can be overwhelming to see your list and know you don’t have the time or capacity for everything. It can also be frustrating to know that by taking care of everything on it you won’t be able to do the work you really love.
3. You’re working way past the end of your work-day to check everything off
If you’re someone who can’t handle the day ending with even one un-checked item, you might be working into your personal and family time to get everything done. And while we absolutely understand and encourage working hard, there comes a point where burnout negatively outweighs the benefits.
4. Your schedule does not allow for the day-to-day tasks anymore
When you’re tied up running your business it can be overwhelming to even think of all the normal life tasks like dry-cleaning, grocery shopping, and making returns—but they still need to get done!
5. You’re not moving forward on the big things because the little ones are holding you down
On the flip side, you might be caught up on the day-to-day tasks, especially if you’re a parent. But that can be hard when you also have large goals you’re working towards in your own life or business. The answer is not to write off your own priorities, but to offload the work you no longer have time for.
What can you do about it?
If you made it this far you’re probably wondering what you can do about these never-ending lists. We all stumble into one of these frustrating signs from time to time, but if you realize that several of them have been showing up consistently, it’s probably time to make an adjustment. Outgrowing a to-do list isn’t quite as simple as outgrowing a pair of shoes and buying the next size up. There will be some more growing pains as you figure out the best way to outsource tasks, but the time you get back is always worth it.
It’s time to offload and outsource tasks!
This will look different depending on which tasks make the most sense to hand off. Maybe it means scheduling grocery deliveries so you know your fridge will be full when you get home from work. It might also mean trusting someone else with a task you’ve been holding onto for too long, like managing your company’s social media accounts.
Start by looking at your to-do list, take stock of the tasks you know you need to hold onto, then move onto the ones you’re happy to hand off. The exciting part comes once you get to think of what you can tackle when you have more time on your hands! At MOD, we call this “picking your pain points”.
Here at MOD we know a little about what it takes to outsource and delegate. Trying to balance work, family, friends and all of those tedious day-to-day tasks has become a daily struggle for so many. We provide our clients with the ease of mind that only a completed check list of errands can provide. So if that’s what you’re looking for, we’ve got you covered!
