don't let the busy consume you
get your things done, but don't let your to-do list run your life. leave time for listening -- don't always be a go go go human -- and don't miss the little moments because you are so busy. the stress of it all will get to you, and wear you down [even if you don't realize it]. don't expect perfection from yourself, but do the best you can.
the stuff on your to-do list won't always get done. it's okay. just hand your stress over to God and don't worry. stuff will happen. life will be lived.
Thanks! I came here from Fishing for Ideas, and this was just as helpful as Jonathan's post! Stress is such a problem, and I've been trying to cut it out of my life. My mental to-do list has been a little . . . unreliable, so I'm picking my planner back up before I forget an assignment. I have a few ways of relieving stress - mainly writing. Music also keeps me alive, especially upbeat, positive lyrics. And Christmas music is a staple of life every day after Halloween. (Okay, fine, I started listening on Halloween, but I couldn't wait another day. It's the most wonderful time of the year!) Thanks for posting, and God bless!
ReplyDeleteaw, thanks, Brianna! believe me, I feel you. it's hard to cut it out - it's a real process, I know. honestly, idek if I've ever had a mental to-do list -- unless you count remembering to write that down that thing you should do on the to-do list. xP lucky you! writing isn't stressful for me, but I always feel bad when doing it because I feel like I should be doing other things :P
DeleteI DID THE SAME THING. and I'm totally full-fledged listening to it now haha xD
This was such a GREAT POST, Sarah! And it's so true. I used to be a procrastinator, but I'm really not like that anymore. If I have something I need to do, I just do it right there and then. If I can't do it at that moment, then I write it down on my to-do list and do it right when I get the chance. It really helps me! :)
ReplyDeleteThose pictures are SO PRETTY!! Is that y'alls garden? It's absolutely beautiful! <3
- Maddy | littlebitofsunshineweb.blogspot.com
AHHHH, THX, MADDY. wowow that's an excellent skill though. I go either way, honestly. I do feel like when I have more things to do I procrastinate less tho?? idk. xD aww thanks!! It's actually the garden I've been helping out a ton with this summer - it's been awesome! and thanks *is so proud of all our little plants* xD
DeleteTHIS POST IS AMAZING THANK YOU. I literally feel like all my blogging buddies have collaborated to write posts for me xD
ReplyDeleteDUDE HOW DO YOU FALL ASLEEP SO FAST??? It takes me a half hour, minimum. (Usually I'm thinking about tomorrow... #oops).
I think you listed about every tip there is! The Sunday one is probably the best. I know I'm too busy when I spend Sunday afternoon "getting things done."
AH YOU ARE WELCOME (and yes, honestly I feel the same way?? xD)
DeleteDUDE IDEK ITS MY ONLY SUPERPOWER, SO. do you remember when you were a kid and it was like "If I fall asleep now I'll get exactly so and so amount of sleep"?? or maybe that was me #weirdkid xP XD
yeaaahh, I tend to fall for that one a lot. then my weekend gets crammed instead of restful #whoops - working on that xD
Ugh, I'm such a procrastinator. I really want to get everything down, I just get distracted too easily. I'm better about it than I used to be, so there's that. But I still need to work on it. Haha, when it comes to falling asleep you sound like my sister. She actually likes to fall asleep with the light on. I, on the hand, take a bare minimum of 20 minutes to fall asleep. It's kind of frustrating. Oh well.
ReplyDeleteThese tips were really great. It's always better to expect less of yourself than you can actually do, so if you do more you'll feel really amazing.
~ Ella Marie
well, what I like to do is tell myself that if I finish my work, or at least part of it, I can do that thing that I wanted to do XD or, set a timer and stick to it. and lol, I'm honestly not particular - I can sleep with the light on or off xP XD
Deleteaww, thanks! I discovered that one a long time ago - it's harder to feel pumped about finishing a project when it took way longer than you had thought xP XD
YES. SAME. I APPROVE OF THIS. Especially the parts about expecting the unexpected, like expecting things to take longer than you think, or expecting things to come up and interrupt you. *nods* I've been working on that lately because big family life = something always interrupts you. PERIOD. NO EXCEPTIONS. XD
ReplyDeleteAlso the thing about leaving one day of the week open is so me? Like? You didn't hack my brain did you? XP For me it's typically Wednesdays though (but only in the morning) because I'm unconventional mwahahaha
ALSO. ONE MORE THING. Do you bullet journal and if so does it help you to get things done? Someone got me a journal with dots in it for my birthday and I'm THINKING about bullet journaling but idk yet.
YES it's a trick of mine that I discovered cuz sometimes projects take FOREVER tho and then you get annoyed with yourself then stressed and so on. :P and lol, ikr?? xD
Deleteuhhmm, nooo - but I probably could have ahhaaa. ohh, a middle of the week break day is a good idea *nods* I'm working on leaving my weekend more empty for relaxation than stuffing things to do in there #dothatwaytoomuch
OKAY. SO. yes, I /did/ bullet journal, but I actually stopped. simply because I didn't have time weekly to make a new layout for the week BUT if you dedicated one day a month to it I think it'd be fine. I found this other planner, called a Happy Planner that I lovveee, and would recommend, except its kinda girlish xP here's a layout I did do when I had one. it's a lot simpler then many people do but yeah http://the-introverted-extrovert.blogspot.com/2017/05/my-bullet-journal-realisticness-10.html
if you do it, I'd recommend making a separate list of things you want to have in there. blogging area, monthly, daily, goals, money, books, ect. then go from there and figure out the order you want. the nice thing is, you can make it however you want it to be! look up a couple ideas online, just don't go crazy and get afraid of the thing xP
but the actual bullet journal /did/ help me get things done! any list does, tho - as long as it's visible for me to look at. (aka toss it on my bed so I can actually see it). also, I set 1828198117183401 timers on my phone to remember stuff lol xP let me know if you have any more questions about it!
OKAY I SHALL HAVE TO LOOK INTO IT. I kinda aspire to doing it, but it does seem to be a time commitment? We shall see though. I'll let you decide if I decide to give it a shot.
Deletehmm yeah. maybe what you should do is give it a month or something and then decide from there?? just give it a try and see if it helps you, or ends up draining you. sounds good!
DeleteI really really really like this post, because I can relate to your list love!! I am the same way, but I have been failing MISERABLY at organizing my life. Like, not even kidding, I am taking my two off days from work to get my life together. :p
ReplyDeleteBut really this post helps so much and YES I'M LISTENING TO CHRISTMAS MUSIC TOO. I am so ready for alllll the Christmasy things BRING IT ON.
//megan
(megans-journals.blogspot.com)
eeeeeeeeeeeeeppppppppppppp thank you!! ikr?? I remember being when I was younger I'd scratch to-do lists on my math school work #whoops XD whoaaa, well don't stress about it! and you can't /really/ fail at it - there's always room for improvement, but you aren't failing k.
Deleteaww, well I'm glad <33 AGH YES. I found this piano jazz christmas playlist on spotify that I am just loovvvinnggg. AGREED. I AM READY (omw gotta start Christmas shopping tho *flails*)
I definitely have those days when I look at my lists and think "WHAT HAVE I BEEN DOING" because apparently the answer is twiddling my pencil or something?? And when that occurs on a Monday (my most productive day, or at least it feels like it), I don't seem to get into a productive mindset for the whole WEEK.
ReplyDelete(@ Everyone with Procrastination Hacks: why are you holding out on us.) :P
- Jem Jones
LOL IKR and often those are the days where you /feel/ like you got stuff done. but the truth is, you DID -- just not the stuff on your list :P woowow lucky you!! productive mondays?? I'm jealous haha. I do have spurts of inspiration to get everything done tho - mostly when I have a lot of stuff to do, and when my room is clean XD
DeleteLOL I suppose people are still trying to find the cure lol XD
I have SO SO SO many to do lists! I love listening to audio books while working on my to do list too!
ReplyDelete(Also: I haven't really started listening to Christmas music yet, but I'm slowly getting it, and I'M SO EXCITED!!!)
I KNOW so many (honestly they are fun to write, but harder to do :P) saammmee. it makes getting things done much easier *nods*
DeleteDUDE GET INTO IT ITS THE BEST THING TRUST ME I listen to it as long as I can 'cuz it's just so holidayish and cozy xD
I know how hard this can be. I'm a *to-do list* type of person too. Thanks for sharing those really helpful and encouraging tips.
ReplyDelete