As a mom, I have realized how little control I have over my
schedule, my to-do list, nap times, bed times, meal times, and pretty much LIFE
in general. Have you just been tempted
to throw your hands up, resolve that you just WON’T get anything done, and call
it a day?! Yeah, me too.
Have you found yourself pushing your kids aside, saying
“just one more minute” for forty-seven minutes straight, shushing your
children, and scolding your three year old for nothing more than just being
three all in an effort to wash that last dish, send out that important email,
or get your workout in? Yeah, me too.
Are those our only two options? Goodness, I hope not. I am terribly far from perfect. Finding the balance of being somewhat
productive while still actively engaging with my children is a constant
battle. But I am getting closer. And on good days, I can track my day, and
figure out what worked.
We all have AT LEAST fifteen things we COULD do every single
day. We all have endless to-do lists,
unfinished projects, cards to write, groceries to shop for, calls to make, and
dinners to cook. But I have learned to
look through my list of twenty-five to-do items, accurately prioritize, and
narrow my list down to only three to five non-negotiable to-dos.
These are the things that I HAVE to get done no matter
what. These are the things that if I
have to stay up later that night, or put the TV on for the kids, or lock myself
in my room for even just ten minutes, these things HAVE to get done.
How is this helpful?
Knowing ahead of time what I NEED to get done and working from a list,
totally frees me up. I can put my phone
away and play with my children without that nagging feeling of “I have to do
this. I have to do that. What time is it? I can’t forget about that person.”
I can play on the floor with my babies and (usually) resist
the urge to get out the broom and start sweeping. I can read books to my little girl without
constantly checking the notifications on my phone.
I can go through my day with peace knowing that the most
important things on my list WILL get done and hey, if I have time to do a few
more things, great! If not, no big deal!
Making my list of non-negotiables has forced me to become
more organized and therefore more efficient and effective with the time I do
have. But more importantly my list of
non-negotiables has allowed me to focus on what matters most.
And the things that matter most- slobbery kisses, crinkly
noses, silly three year old words, impromptu dance parties, acts of sibling
affection, and gap-toothed smiles- can’t be categorized on a to-do list.
