I kept a "what I actually did today" journal instead of a…
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I kept a "what I actually did today" journal instead of a to-do list and it completely changed how I see myself
For years I've started every morning writing a to-do list. 10 to 15 items. By the end of the day I'd cross off maybe 5 or 6 and feel like a failure because of the ones left undone. Every single day ended with me looking at what I didn't finish.
A couple months ago I flipped it. I stopped writing to-do lists in the morning. Instead, every night before bed I write down everything I actually did that day. Not planned. Done.
The first night I sat there thinking I hadn't done much. Then I started writing. Woke up, made breakfast, showered, drove to work, answered 40 something emails, had 3 meetings, helped a coworker with a problem, bought groceries, cooked dinner, called my mom, did laundry, cleaned the kitchen.
I looked at that list and thought, when did I become someone who thinks this isn't enough?
The to-do list trained my brain to focus on the gap between what I planned and what I accomplished. The "done" list trains it to see what I'm actually doing with my time. And it turns out I do a lot. I just never gave myself credit because there was always something left unchecked.
The unexpected side effect is that I actually get more done now. Not because I'm more disciplined. Because I'm not starting every day already feeling behind. I start neutral instead of in debt. And that headspace makes it easier to just do things instead of dreading the list.
If you constantly feel like you're not doing enough, try tracking what you do instead of what you should do. You might surprise yourself.
#inspiration
source
For years I've started every morning writing a to-do list. 10 to 15 items. By the end of the day I'd cross off maybe 5 or 6 and feel like a failure because of the ones left undone. Every single day ended with me looking at what I didn't finish.
A couple months ago I flipped it. I stopped writing to-do lists in the morning. Instead, every night before bed I write down everything I actually did that day. Not planned. Done.
The first night I sat there thinking I hadn't done much. Then I started writing. Woke up, made breakfast, showered, drove to work, answered 40 something emails, had 3 meetings, helped a coworker with a problem, bought groceries, cooked dinner, called my mom, did laundry, cleaned the kitchen.
I looked at that list and thought, when did I become someone who thinks this isn't enough?
The to-do list trained my brain to focus on the gap between what I planned and what I accomplished. The "done" list trains it to see what I'm actually doing with my time. And it turns out I do a lot. I just never gave myself credit because there was always something left unchecked.
The unexpected side effect is that I actually get more done now. Not because I'm more disciplined. Because I'm not starting every day already feeling behind. I start neutral instead of in debt. And that headspace makes it easier to just do things instead of dreading the list.
If you constantly feel like you're not doing enough, try tracking what you do instead of what you should do. You might surprise yourself.
#inspiration
source
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