Do-able To Do Lists

In response to my to-do lists being too long, a reader suggested I focus my lists on one day or one room.

I think some of my lists should focus on even less. They should encouraging discipline for the specific times of day I know I'm likely to loose focus. They should acknowledge things that take up time that I don't factor in well enough.


Furthermore, what if I made my lists short enough that I knew I could actually accomplish them?


I keep making unrealistic lists. Sometimes I let myself think I could actually accomplish them. Other times I know I can't, but feel the need to keep all the things on the list, because they have to get done sooner or later, preferably sooner.

That's not helpful or rewarding. I suppose I need that big master list somewhere. But what point is there in taking on more of it than I can handle at a time?

My List is Too Long Again

Why am I so often filled with discontent
over a to do list I can never satisfy?
No matter what I do,
There is always more.

My list is too long.

But my list is filled with good and important things.

Life is filled to overflowing with good things. (God said, "It is good.")

Which things is one person, with one lifetime,
60 minutes per hour, 24 hours per day, 365 days per year
to choose?
How is one to let go of the rest
during 60 minutes, 24 hours, 365 days, or a lifetime?

I'm not looking for another scheme for organizing and prioritizing,
unless it's one that brings spiritual transformation:
clarity about the most important things for me,
patient discipline in engaging them,
and the ability to let the other good things go.

I really am only one human...60 minutes per hour, 24 hours, 365 days, how many years?
I really can only do so much.
What shall it be?
What shall it be now?

Carry Nothing

Of course the post below begs the questions:

• what are the basics?
• why carry anything else?

How little could I reasonably carry?

Could I carry nothing?

What were the disiples to carry or not in the story when Jesus sent them out?

Carry One Thing

I was out today planning to come home again before work.
Could I go right to work without going home if I needed or wanted to?
Oh no, I'd have to get my stuff.

What stuff??
All I need to do my job is myself. All other supplies are at my workplace.

The bag of stuff I always carry around because I might find a chance to get around to doing what I'm going to do with that stuff....

I never do of course.

New approach:

Other than the basics (wallet, comb, phone, etc.) and things I know I'll use (my lunch for work, letters I'll mail on my way there...)

I may only carry one thing. ONE. Carry ONE thing only.

Be free.

3 Easy Steps

3 Easy Steps to a more managable to do list.

1. Put today's date at the top of the paper
2. Write your to do list.
3. Add the words "The week of" in front the date.

In effect that's what I did today. I was quite prolific in writing my to do list. No writer's block there! If I can get it all done in a week I'll be happy. Maybe I should make that a month.