Every morning, I start my day the same. I sit quietly (if only for a moment) and ask myself,
“What do I WANT to do today?”
“What SHOULD I do today?
And finally, “What do I NEED to do today?”
The ‘need’ is the priority. The ‘want’ is the reward. The ‘should’ is the worry.
I think we sometimes get so consumed with these long lists of things to do, we have a hard time prioritizing them. Having too much to do is overwhelming, and often we put it all on ourselves. WHY? When was the last time you actually got through a to-do list?
The reason I start my day asking myself these 3 questions (in this order) is because it brings clarity without thinking too hard. The motivation you need to get stuff done is there, right in front of you. And you have a whole day ahead of you to get there.
Accomplishing a priority is easier with a reward waiting, but harder when you’re worrying about other things.
So put ‘the should’ out of your mind. Focus on ‘the need’, and ‘the want’ will follow.
Have a great day.
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6 comments
This is great. I always try to do it all & actually typically get at least 2/3 of my lists done, but at the end of the day I’m completely exhausted. I end up burning myself out & lists stop being made for weeks, then it all starts over again. Maybe letting go of the should, more often, will help me avoid the burn out.
I am pretty sure you mean three questions you ask yourself every day. 😊
Updated! Thank you 🙂
Hey there. I’ve been binge watching your videos & love your approach! As I was purging my bookshelf this morning, I flipped open a book I still want to read: Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver. And the perfect paragraph jumped out at me. I couldn’t think of anyone else to share it with but you!
On the cusp of her 50th birthday party she is trying to convince folks that she wants no presents. ” I’d asked for no presents. The stuff-acquisition curve of my life has long since peaked and lately turned into a campaign against accumulation, with everyday skirmishes in the kitchen table. Not just mail and school papers either, I mean stuff on that table. (Shoes, auto parts, live arthropods in small wire cages. No presents, I said. Really.”
They ended up throwing her a “half-century birthday Garden Party. Everyone brought outdoor plants for her front garden beds. I so thought of you when reading these pages!
Since I’m over 50 it was nice to know that others my age are still fighting the kitchen table battle. Mine has tools, socks, papers, and car oil. Wha????
Anyway, just thought of you and wanted to thank you for your encouragement on this less-mess journey.
Thanks for sharing that excerpt Cheryl! And I love that people brought plants… so perfect. 🙂 Haha… car oil, too funny! My table is always filled with misc stuff too… we’re getting better, but it’s a struggle!
Hi from Houston, TX! Gosh I just love watching your videos. I have two screens at my office and put your video on one and the work stuff on the other. I’m addicted and I’ve been watching ever since I fell down the rabbit hole. Honestly I have no idea how I even found you. You have such a knack for this kind of stuff. Keep the content coming. By the way it looks so nice and peaceful where you live. I’m jealous!!!!