I find myself waking up at 4:00 or 5:00am with my mind racing. Well first I generally have to pee, then find that I can’t seem to go back to sleep. So I toss and turn for awhile before I finally turn on the light and write down all the “to dos” that I have to do the next day.
This actually allows me to fall back asleep which is nice. When I got out of bed this morning, I stared down at my tasks to add to my “to do” list and thought to myself does it ever end?
I suppose writing and following “to do” lists are a choice. No one is holding a gun to my head. Every success book I read talks about goal setting, and writing down your tasks. I suppose if you want to be successful in life, especially in a western culture you do need to write down a “to do” list.
When I lived in Nepal, as a Peace Corps volunteer (over 10 years ago Egad!) I never wrote “to do” lists. I had a certain routine each day that I followed but life in general was extremely mellow. But in the same breathe I lived in a mud hut, and took public showers by the river. Life was very different.
I do appreciate all the finer things that western culture brings. I think there is a fine balance to working smart and working hard. The “to do” list is just another tool to help you work smart hopefully not too hard. I find when I ask myself will the “to do list” ever end? Most likely it is an indicator that I am burning out and probably need to take a break at least for the day.
So I decided to write on the blog, which today which was not on my “to do” list and I have a feeling the day will go just fine. What needs to get done today will get done.
Here is to putting your “to do” list to the side for a day.
Happy Holidays,
Sharon
