Big Three Strategy

One of the biggest complaints I hear from moms is that they just don’t have time. There is no time for the laundry, the dishes, the floors, the kids, the pets, or the husband, much less time for themselves! Throw in your work responsibilities and now not only is there no time, but there’s also hardly any energy! Constantly feeling like there is not enough time causes a lot of guilt, and maybe even a bit of shame too. The peace that you should feel when you finally get to crawl into bed for the night is overshadowed by the list of things you didn’t get done today. I know how you feel, I’ve been there too. Sometimes I am still there. It would be so easy for me to tell you, “you’re just putting too much on yourself and you need to lighten up”... But I think you’d reach right through this screen and slap me if I did that! Yes, we can hear those words, or similar ones, and agree that that would help, but deep down we know that hearing it and believing it doesn’t make it so.

You need more than someone to tell you what you already know, you need a plan to help you get there! I’ve got you covered. I have had to revisit these strategies recently as I adjust to life with a newborn. While I refuse to feel guilty for cuddling this little one, I do still have tasks that need to be accomplished every day! So how do I find peace with knowing that I did what needed to be done and I still have a list a mile long? 

I pick three things that matter the most each day. Currently, I do this at about 4 am while I’m feeding the baby, but you can pick a time that works for you. Maybe that is right as you wake up in the morning, maybe it’s before you go to bed the night before. Either way, as long as you don’t get too far into your day before deciding what you’re going to do with it.

After you’ve decided what time of day, you must decide where you’ll keep track of these things. I love the ‘tasks’ app from google. I also use google calendar to keep my schedule straight so this is an easy leap for me, but a pen and paper, planner, or journal of your choice would work just as well. 

Finally, pick a way to stay organized. You can separate your lists, color code them, or use a number or star system (1 is most important, 2 stars mean it’s a priority, etc). 

Once you’ve got all that figured out, then you are ready to get started. Begin by listing all of the things you “think” need to be done. I say think in quotes because often when we start these types of lists, we put tasks that do not need to be a priority. You know the ones I’m talking about. Getting your wedding pictures into that scrapbook-even though you’re wedding was years ago. Completing that baby blanket for the kiddo who is about to head off to college. Painting the deck when you’re in the dead of winter. You get the idea. So create your list. 

Once your list is created, then you can organize it, however, whatever works best for you. I like to separate mine into, Must Do Soon, Must Do Later, 10 min or less, and Want to do Someday. After you’ve got things organized then you can pick your three biggest priorities off the “Must Do” lists. Things like paying bills that are due tomorrow or getting that load of laundry done so you have clean underwear for tomorrow.

There's a little room for flexibility here. Of course, you want to accomplish all of your must-do soon tasks 'soon' but if one of them is a very time-consuming task, like maybe painting your house, you might have only that on your priority list today.  I would encourage you on these days to grab a couple of tasks off your 10 minutes or less list. 

The idea is that you do not work on anything else each day until these 3 tasks are completed. That means you don't do the dishes, don't quickly scrub the floor, or check your email. Once you've accomplished your tasks, then you can come up for air, so to speak. You can choose to keep working down your list or do something completely different. Either way,  at the end of the day,  you can go to sleep knowing you were successful today.  You accomplished your PRIORITIES. 

Your to-do list is never-ending, and that is often out of your control. But you do have the ability to choose what on the list deserves your full attention today. Celebrate that success instead of collapsing under the weight of what you cannot control.  

If you'd like help determining what on your list needs to be a priority and how to release the pressure created around it,  I'd love to guide you. Find a place on my calendar so we can start working together.